Ribosomal protein (RP) expression in higher eukaryotes is regulated translationally, through the 5′TOP sequence. This mechanism evolved to more rapidly produce RPs on demand in different tissues. Here we show that 40S ribosomes, in a complex with mRNA binding protein LARP1, selectively stabilize 5′TOP mRNAs, with disruption of this complex leading to induction of the impaired ribosome biogenesis checkpoint (IRBC) and p53 stabilization. The importance of this mechanism is underscored in 5q− syndrome, a macrocytic anemia caused by a large monoallelic deletion, which we found also encompasses the LARP1 gene. Critically, depletion of LARP1 alone in human adult CD34+ bone marrow precursor cells, leads to a reduction in 5′TOP mRNAs and the induction of p53. These studies identify a 40S ribosome function, independent of those in translation, which with LARP1 mediates the autogenous control of 5′TOP mRNA stability, whose disruption is implicated in the pathophysiology of 5q− syndrome.

PURPOSE Somatic mutations occur at early stages of adenoma and accumulate throughout colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. The aim of this study was to characterize the mutational landscape of stage II tumors and to search for novel recurrent mutations likely implicated in CRC tumorigenesis. DESIGN The exomic DNA of 42 stage II, microsatellite stable, colon tumors and their paired mucosae were sequenced. Other molecular data available in the discovery dataset (gene expression, methylation, and CNV) was used to further characterize these tumors. Additional datasets comprising 553 CRC samples were used to validate the discovered mutations. RESULTS As a result, 4,886 somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were found. Almost all SNVs were private changes, with few mutations shared by more than one tumor, thus revealing tumor-specific mutational landscapes. Nevertheless, these diverse mutations converged into common cellular pathways such as cell cycle or apoptosis. Among this mutational heterogeneity, variants resulting in early stop-codons in the AMER1 (also known as FAM123B or WTX) gene emerged as recurrent mutations in CRC. Loses of AMER1 by other mechanisms apart from mutations such as methylation and copy number aberrations were also found. Tumors lacking this tumor suppressor gene exhibited a mesenchymal phenotype characterized by inhibition of the canonical Wnt pathway. CONCLUSION In silico and experimental validation in independent datasets confirmed the existence of functional mutations in AMER1 in approximately 10% of analyzed CRC tumors. Moreover, these tumors exhibited a characteristic phenotype.

The role of MYC in regulating p53 stability as a function of increased ribosome biogenesis is controversial. On the one hand, it was suggested that MYC drives the overexpression of ribosomal proteins (RP)L5 and RPL11, which bind and inhibit HDM2, stabilizing p53. On the other, it has been proposed that increased ribosome biogenesis leads the consumption of RPL5/RPL11 into nascent ribosomes, reducing p53 levels and enhancing tumorigenesis. Here, we show that the components that make up the recently described impaired ribosome biogenesis checkpoint (IRBC) complex, RPL5, RPL11, and 5S rRNA, are reduced following MYC silencing. This leads to a rapid reduction in p53 protein half-life in an HDM2-dependent manner. In contrast, MYC induction leads to increased ribosome biogenesis and p53 protein stabilization. Unexpectedly, there is no change in free RPL5/RPL11 levels, but there is a striking increase in IRBC complex bound to HDM2. Our data support a cell-intrinsic tumor-suppressor response to MYC expression, which is presently being exploited to treat cancer. Significance: Oncogenic MYC induces the impaired ribosome biogenesis checkpoint, which could be potentially targeted for cancer treatment.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized genomic research and is set to have a major impact on genetic diagnostics thanks to the advent of benchtop sequencers and flexible kits for targeted libraries. Among the main hurdles in NGS are the difficulty of performing bioinformatic analysis of the huge volume of data generated and the high number of false positive calls that could be obtained, depending on the NGS technology and the analysis pipeline. Here, we present the development of a free and user-friendly Web data analysis tool that detects and filters sequence variants, provides coverage information, and allows the user to customize some basic parameters. The tool has been developed to provide accurate genetic analysis of targeted sequencing of common high-risk hereditary cancer genes using amplicon libraries run in a GS Junior System. The Web resource is linked to our own mutation database, to assist in the clinical classification of identified variants. We believe that this tool will greatly facilitate the use of the NGS approach in routine laboratories.