EGFP insertional mutagenesis reveals multiple FXR2P fibrillar states with differing ribosome association in neurons
Stackpole, Emily E. ; Akins, Michael R. ; Ivshina, Mariya ; Murthy, Anastasia C. ; Fawzi, Nicolas L. ; Fallon, Justin R.
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Local protein synthesis
Low complexity
RNA granule
RNA-binding protein
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides
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Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) function in higher-order assemblages such as RNA granules to regulate RNA localization and translation. The Fragile X homolog FXR2P is an RBP essential for formation of neuronal Fragile X granules that associate with axonal mRNA and ribosomes in the intact brain. However, the FXR2P domains important for assemblage formation in a cellular system are unknown. Here we used an EGFP insertional mutagenesis approach to probe for FXR2P intrinsic features that influence its structural states. We tested 18 different in-frame FXR2P(EGFP) fusions in neurons and found that the majority did not impact assemblage formation. However, EGFP insertion within a 23 amino acid region of the low complexity (LC) domain induced FXR2P(EGFP) assembly into two distinct fibril states that were observed in isolation or in highly-ordered bundles. FXR2P(EGFP) fibrils exhibited different developmental timelines, ultrastructures and ribosome associations. Formation of both fibril types was dependent on an intact RNA-binding domain. These results suggest that restricted regions of the LC domain, together with the RNA-binding domain, may be important for FXR2P structural state organization in neurons.
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Biol Open. 2019 Aug 21;8(8). pii: 8/8/bio046383. doi: 10.1242/bio.046383. Link to article on publisher's site