[PDF][PDF] APC is an RNA-binding protein, and its interactome provides a link to neural development and microtubule assembly

N Preitner, J Quan, DW Nowakowski, ML Hancock… - Cell, 2014 - cell.com
N Preitner, J Quan, DW Nowakowski, ML Hancock, J Shi, J Tcherkezian, TL Young-Pearse
Cell, 2014cell.com
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a microtubule plus-end scaffolding protein important in
biology and disease. APC is implicated in RNA localization, although the mechanisms and
functional significance remain unclear. We show APC is an RNA-binding protein and identify
an RNA interactome by HITS-CLIP. Targets were highly enriched for APC-related functions,
including microtubule organization, cell motility, cancer, and neurologic disease. Among the
targets is β2B-tubulin, known to be required in human neuron and axon migration. We show …
Summary
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is a microtubule plus-end scaffolding protein important in biology and disease. APC is implicated in RNA localization, although the mechanisms and functional significance remain unclear. We show APC is an RNA-binding protein and identify an RNA interactome by HITS-CLIP. Targets were highly enriched for APC-related functions, including microtubule organization, cell motility, cancer, and neurologic disease. Among the targets is β2B-tubulin, known to be required in human neuron and axon migration. We show β2B-tubulin is synthesized in axons and localizes preferentially to dynamic microtubules in the growth cone periphery. APC binds the β2B-tubulin 3′ UTR; experiments interfering with this interaction reduced β2B-tubulin mRNA axonal localization and expression, depleted dynamic microtubules and the growth cone periphery, and impaired neuron migration. These results identify APC as a platform binding functionally related protein and RNA networks, and suggest a self-organizing model for the microtubule to localize synthesis of its own subunits.
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