Cryptic polyadenylation within coding sequences (CDS) triggers ribosome-associated quality control (RQC), followed by degradation of the aberrant mRNA and polypeptide, ribosome disassembly and recycling. Although ribosomal subunit dissociation and nascent peptide degradation are well-understood, the molecular sensors of aberrant mRNAs and their mechanism of action remain unknown. We studied the Zinc Finger Protein 598 (ZNF598) using PAR-CLIP and revealed that it cross-links to tRNAs, mRNAs and rRNAs, thereby placing the protein on translating ribosomes. Cross-linked reads originating from AAA-decoding tRNALys(UUU) were 10-fold enriched over its cellular abundance, and poly-lysine encoded by poly(AAA) induced RQC in a ZNF598-dependent manner. Encounter with translated polyA segments by ZNF598 triggered ubiquitination of several ribosomal proteins, requiring the E2 ubiquitin ligase UBE2D3 to initiate RQC. Considering that human CDS are devoid of >4 consecutive AAA codons, sensing of prematurely placed polyA tails by a specialized RNA-binding protein is a novel nucleic-acid-based surveillance mechanism of RQC.

Fragile X syndrome is the leading monogenic cause of ASD. Trinucleotide repeats in the FMR1 gene abolish FMRP protein expression, leading to hyperactivation of ERK and mTOR signaling, upstream of mRNA translation. Here we show that metformin, the most widely used anti-type 2 diabetes drug, rescues core phenotypes in Fmr1-/y mice and selectively normalizes Erk signaling, Eif4e phosphorylation and the expression of Mmp9. Thus, metformin is a potential FXS therapeutic. Dysregulated mRNA translation is linked to core pathologies diagnosed in the Fragile X neurodevelopmental Syndrome (FXS), such as social and behavior problems, developmental delays and learning disabilities 1,2. In the brains of FXS patients and knockout mice (Fmr1-/y ; X-linked Fmr1 deletion in male mice), loss of Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) results in hyperactivation of the mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways 1,2. Consistent with increased ERK activity, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) phosphorylation is elevated in the brain of FXS patients and Fmr1-/y mice, thereby promoting translation of the mRNA encoding for matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), which is elevated in the brains of both FXS patients and the Fmr1-/y mice 1-5. In accordance with these findings, knockout of Mmp9 rescues the majority of phenotypes in Fmr1-/y mice. MMP-9 degrades components of the extracellular matrix, including proteins important for synaptic function and maturation, which are implicated in FXS and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Recent observations indicate that metformin, a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, imparts numerous health benefits beyond its original therapeutic use, such as decreased cancer risk and improved cancer prognosis 6. Metformin inhibits the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1, leading to a decrease in cellular energy state and thus activation of the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) 6. Several AMPK-independent activities of metformin have also been reported 7,8. Since metformin suppresses translation by inhibiting

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in a broad variety of biological processes by inhibiting translation initiation and by destabilizing target mRNAs. The CCR4-NOT complex effects miRNA-mediated silencing, at least in part through interactions with 4E-T (eIF4E transporter) protein, but the precise mechanism is unknown. Here we show that the cap-binding eIF4E-homologous protein 4EHP is an integral component of the miRNA-mediated silencing machinery. We demonstrate that the cap-binding activity of 4EHP contributes to the translational silencing by miRNAs through the CCR4-NOT complex. Our results show that 4EHP competes with eIF4E for binding to 4E-T, and this interaction increases the affinity of 4EHP for the cap. We propose a model wherein the 4E-T/4EHP interaction engenders a closed-loop mRNA conformation that blocks translational initiation of miRNA targets.M icroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, ∼22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that affect gene expression in most eukaryotes. miRNAs mediate posttranscriptional silencing by guiding the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), an assembly of Argonautes and GW182/TNRC6 proteins, to target mRNAs. Target recognition initiates a succession of events: mRNA translational repression, deadenylation, and mRNA decay (1). miRNAs impair the function of eIF4F, a three-subunit complex composed of eIF4E, the m 7 GTP (cap)-interacting factor; eIF4G, a scaffolding protein; and eIF4A, a DEAD-box RNA helicase (2-5). The silencing activity of miRISC is mediated by the CCR4-NOT deadenylase complex through the scaffolding subunit, CNOT1 (6-8). CNOT1 recruits the DDX6 and 4E-T (eIF4E transporter, also known as EIF4ENIF1) proteins, which are important for miRNA-mediated silencing (9-16). The 4E-T protein is a conserved eIF4E-binding protein, which directly binds to the dorsal surface of eIF4E through its canonical eIF4E-binding YX 4 LL (Y 30 TKEELL) motif and impairs the eIF4E/eIF4G interaction and translation initiation (17). The 4E-T protein also facilitates the decay of CCR4-NOT-targeted mRNAs by linking the 3′-terminal mRNA decay machinery to the cap via its interaction with eIF4E (13).In mammals, eIF4E is the best-studied member of a family of proteins composed of eIF4E (eIF4E1), 4EHP (4E-homologous protein; eIF4E2), and eIF4E3. The 4EHP and eIF4E proteins share 28% sequence identity (18,19). The 4EHP protein is ubiquitously expressed, and it is 5-10 times less abundant than eIF4E in a number of mammalian cell lines (18)(19)(20). Like eIF4E, 4EHP binds to 4E-T, but in sharp contrast to eIF4E, it does not associate with eIF4G (18, 21). The 4EHP protein has a 30-to 100-fold weaker affinity for the cap than eIF4E due to a twoamino acid substitution in its cap-binding pocket (22).The 4EHP protein has primarily been documented as a translation repressor. In the Drosophila embryo, 4EHP associates with the RNA binding protein Bicoid to repress caudal mRNA translation (23). Similarly, 4EHP also represses the hunchback mRNA by binding to the nanos repressive element complex, which consists of nanos...

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