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Curr Opin Genet Dev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 October 26.
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PMCID: PMC3481834
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The Cancerous Translation Apparatus
Craig R. Stumpf1 and Davide Ruggero1
1School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, Helen, Diller Family Cancer Research Building Room 386, 1450 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158-3110
Correspondence should be addressed to: Davide Ruggero, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 1450 3rd Street, Room 386, MC 3110, San Francisco, CA 94158, Phone: 415-514-9755, Fax: 415-514-4826, davide.ruggero/at/ucsf.edu
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Abstract
Deregulations in translational control are critical features of cancer initiation and progression. Activation of key oncogenic pathways promote rapid and dramatic translational reprogramming, not simply by increasing overall protein synthesis, but also by modulating specific mRNA networks that promote cellular transformation. Additionally, ribosomopathies caused by mutations in ribosome components alter translational regulation leading to specific pathological features, including cancer susceptibility. Exciting advances in our understanding of translational control in cancer have illuminated a striking specificity innate to the translational apparatus. Characterizing this specificity will provide novel insights into how cells normally utilize translational control to modulate gene expression, how it is deregulated in cancer, and how these processes can be targeted to develop new cancer therapies.
Decades of research into the molecular programs that govern cellular transformation have mainly focused on the cancer transcriptome. For example, the microarray era has made it possible to catalogue genome-wide variations in the repertoire of transcriptional outputs downstream of specific oncogenic signaling pathways. Ultimately, however, these studies have fallen short in interrogating the end product of gene expression at the level of protein synthesis. A new and critical pipeline into understanding cancer evolution is the growing body of evidence showing that key oncogenic pathways such as Myc and PI3K have monopolized the translational machinery to direct specific posttranscriptional changes in gene expression directly at the level of protein production (Figure 1). In addition, an entire class of inherited syndromes, collectively referred to as ribosomopathies, is characterized by increased cancer susceptibility and harbor mutations in distinct components of the translational apparatus. The realization that there is a post-genomic control mechanism in cancer development has fundamental implications in the design of new cancer therapies that may eradicate the abnormal translational program of cancer cells.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Deregulations in translational control can contribute to each step of cellular transformation and tumor progression
A number of mutations in ribosomal proteins or biogenesis factors have been identified that correlate with increased cancer incidence in humans (Table I). Animal models harboring mutations similar to those found in humans faithfully recapitulate these features and have shed light onto how specific mutations in the translational machinery lead to human pathologies.
Table
Table
One important example of how defects in the ribosome contribute to specific disease pathologies and cancer susceptibility is X-linked Dyskeratosis Congenita (X-DC). X-DC is the most common and severe form of Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC), and is invariably associated with mutations of the DKC1 gene, encoding for dyskerin (Table I)[1,2]. Although prominent features of X-DC pathogenesis include bone marrow failure and skin abnormalities, a wide variety of tumor types including carcinomas and hematopoietic malignancies are also manifest. Dyskerin is an evolutionarily conserved enzyme responsible for the modification of approximately 100 specific uridines into pseudouridines in ribosomal RNA[3,4]. The role of rRNA modifications in translational control has historically been poorly understood. Therefore, the unexpected human genetic mutations associated with a key enzyme responsible for site-specific rRNA modifications were enigmatic, especially with respect to the tissue-specific phenotypes present in X-DC.
The specific features of X-DC pathogenesis, including cancer susceptibility, can be explained, at least in part, by the finding that a specific subset of mRNAs are not efficiently translated in an X-DC mouse model and patient cells [5–8]. On the contrary, general protein synthesis appears to be unperturbed. These target mRNAs all share a common regulatory motif in their 5’untranslated region (5’UTR): an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element that acts to initiate translation in a cap-independent manner. IRES elements are found in approximately 10% of mRNAs, including many tumor suppressor genes and anti-apoptotic factors (Figure 2) [9]. IRES-dependent translation acts to fine tune gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Defects in the IRES mediated translation of a subset of mRNAs, including important tumor suppressors such as p53 and p27, in DKC1 mutant cells contributes to cellular transformation and tumor development [5,6,8]. These studies have also uncovered an unexpected requirement for rRNA modifications in a specific mode of translational control.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors are translationally regulated through specific regulatory elements in their mRNAs
Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a similar case where mutations in several different ribosomal proteins lead to bone marrow failure and an increased risk of leukemia and solid tumors (Table I)[10]. This is also consistent with studies in zebrafish showing that mutations in ribosomal proteins cause cancer [11]. In DBA, alterations in rRNA processing have been described that are associated with defects in ribosome biogenesis. This may trigger a stress response, marked by p53 activation, leading to cell cycle arrest or programmed cell death [12–14]. While the induction of p53 may explain certain pathological features of DBA, the molecular basis for increased cancer susceptibility remains poorly understood. It is currently not clear whether ribosomal proteins may exert more specialized functions in translational control, either on or off the ribosome, that may underlie the cancer susceptibility associated with DBA [15, 16]. For example, very recent studies have shown that a single ribosomal protein, RPL38, regulates transcript-specific translational control of an important class of Hox mRNAs. Moreover, it appears that ribosomal protein expression may be dynamically regulated [17]. As such, it is tempting to speculate that mutations in ribosomal proteins may have more specific roles in translational control that underlie the increased cancer susceptibility observed in DBA.
The X-DC and DBA syndromes are specific examples of an entire class of inherited human cancer susceptibility disorders that are collectively referred to as “ribosomopathies”. Additional notable examples include Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia syndrome, Shwachman Diamond Syndrome, and 5q deletion syndrome, which also show increased risk of developing particular cancers of the skin (basal cell carcinoma) as well as blood (leukemia and lymphoma) [18,19]. In all of these cases, mutations in regulatory factors important for ribosome biogenesis and translational control have been identified (Table I). In certain cases, extra-ribosomal functions exerted by these factors may also play a causative role in disease pathogenesis [14].
Collectively, these inherited ribosomopathies reveal that mutations in regulatory factors important for ribosome activity may produce mutant ribosomes lacking important constituents such as ribosomal proteins or rRNA modifications. Can these mutant forms of the translational machinery be referred to as “cancer ribosomes”? If so, an outstanding question is the mechanism by which the “cancer ribosome” could promote cancer development at the level of aberrant translational control. This is an important question to resolve, as at first glance it may appear counterintuitive that loss of ribosome function could cause cancer, especially given the important connection between increased protein synthesis and cell growth (see below). However, recent findings show surprising specificity in the classes of mRNAs that are specifically deregulated and underlie cancer susceptibility as a consequence of perturbations in ribosome function, for example, as illustrated by X-DC. This also reflects an emerging appreciation and increased knowledge of more specialized and dynamic regulation of translational control in vivo, at an organismal level. In the context of key tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes, a common denominator may be the tight regulation in their expression levels, specifically at the level of translational control. A central principle emerging from detailed molecular studies is that the presence of important regulatory elements (e.g. IRES, complex 5’ and 3’UTRs, RNA binding protein or micro-RNA sites) within key tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes may render these mRNAs exquisitely sensitive to perturbations in translational control (Figure 2).
Ribosome biogenesis and global protein synthesis are tightly and dynamically regulated to accommodate the growth demands of a cell. Indeed, an increase in cell mass is a pre-requisite for accurate cell division. This is achieved by signaling pathways that simultaneously sense energy, stress, nutrient availability, as well as growth factors, and integrate these inputs to direct control of ribosome production and activity. One of the primary reasons for this cross talk is to integrate external stimuli such as energy and nutrient abundance, with the execution of cell growth and division that is directly coupled to protein synthesis. When these signaling pathways are altered, it may lead to unrestrained control of protein synthesis. Indeed, one of the earliest markers for cancer cells, discovered more than 100 years ago, is an increase in the size and number of nucleoli[20]. This may reflect the increasing demands for ribosome biogenesis in cancer cells in order to sustain their elevated rates of growth and division. Is this a cause or consequence of cellular transformation? This question has been answered, at least in part, by the identification of several oncogenic signaling pathways that directly modulate the activity of specific translational components. Notable examples include the PI3K-Akt-mTOR and RAS-MAPK signal transduction pathways, as well as transcriptional programs regulated by oncogenic Myc [21–25].
One of the best-studied examples of oncogenic signaling impinging on translational control is the PI3K-AKT pathway, which modulates translation initiation largely through activation of the kinase mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)[26]. mTORC1 phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1/2 (S6K1/2) and the 4EBPs, which negatively regulate the major cap-binding protein eIF4E[27,28]. The latter leads to a conformational change that releases 4EBPs from eIF4E and ultimately recruits the 40S ribosomal subunit to the 5’ end of mRNAs[29,30]. Overexpression of eIF4E promotes cancer and cooperates with c-Myc to drive lymphomagenesis in vivo in transgenic mice [31, 32]. 4EBPeIF4E exerts significant control over cap-dependent translation, cell growth, cancer initiation, and progression downstream of mTOR hyperactivation [33,34]. Molecularly, eIF4E hyperactivation is able to enhance the translation of select mRNAs[35]. The 5’UTR of these mRNAs are believed to harbor the regulatory elements that impart this selectivity, such as complex secondary structures. One example is Mcl-1, an anti-apoptotic factor containing a complex 5’UTR that is specifically translationally upregulated upon eIF4E hyperactivation leading to enhanced survival of cancer initiating cells [34,36]. While mounting evidence, including elegant genetic studies, have clearly shown a central role of eIF4E hyperactivation in cancer development, the repertoire of translational target mRNAs that are specifically sensitive to eIF4E hyperactivation remains poorly defined. There are now emerging technologies that may facilitate their identification. In particular, the ability to deep sequence ribosome protected mRNAs will enable codon-by-codon resolution of ribosome occupancy on specific mRNAs [37]. Furthermore, through deep sequencing, it is also now possible to determine the secondary structures of mRNAs by using a novel strategy termed parallel analysis of RNA structures (PARS) [38]. The combination of these two technologies may provide a very accurate portrait of how mRNA secondary structures control cap-dependent translation and impact on translation of the cancer genome.
Regulation of eIF4E is not the only node where information from signaling pathways is received by the translational machinery. It is now also clear that an entire repertoire of translational components may be co-opted to promote cancer initiation. For example, AKT hyperactivation also modulates translation elongation [39] (Table I). Additional regulated translational components include eIF2α, which is part of the ternary complex required to chaperone the initiator tRNA to the ribosome. eIF2α is commonly overexpressed in cancers and may thereby provide an uncontrolled stimulus leading to increased rates of protein synthesis [40]. Interestingly, even overexpression of the initiator tRNA itself is able to drive cellular transformation [41]. Another translation factor that promotes cellular transformation is eIF6. eIF6 regulates the joining of the 60S ribosomal subunit to the 48S pre-initiation complex to initiate translation [42]. Importantly, eIF6 has been shown to be rate limiting for translation, cell growth and transformation[42]. Interestingly, eIF6 interacts with RACK1, a ribosome associated scaffolding protein that coordinates signaling by PKC and src kinases [43]. Therefore, signaling through RACK1 to eIF6 may be another important node of oncogenic regulation.
A prominent example of an oncogenic signal that relies on the translational machinery for cellular transformation is the Myc oncogene, which is commonly deregulated in human cancers[44]. Myc directly increases protein synthesis rates by controlling the expression of multiple components of the protein synthetic machinery, including ribosomal proteins, initiation factors of translation, Pol III and rDNA[24,45,46]. Genetic strategies that restore increased protein synthesis in Myc transgenic mice to normal levels reveal that the oncogenic potential of Myc is suppressed in this context [47]. These findings also demonstrate that the ability of Myc to increase protein synthesis directly augments cell size and is sufficient to accelerate cell cycle progression[47]. Surprisingly, deregulations in mitotic translational control as a consequence of Myc hyperactivation also directly lead to genome instability by modulating the translation of specific mRNAs[47]. Thereby, Myc-dependent control of the translational machinery has a pleiotropic role in distinct steps of cancer initiation and progression.
The remarkable repertoire of translational components found deregulated in cancer, whose activity is directly controlled downstream of specific oncogenic signals, strongly supports a critical and causal role in cancer initiation and progression. What is also emerging from these studies is that perturbations in translational control provide a highly specific outcome for gene expression, genome instability, and distinct steps along the pathway towards cancer development.
In most representations of cancer development, deregulations in protein synthesis are simply depicted by a generic arrow that culminates in cell growth. While this may certainly be one of the mechanisms by which deregulations in protein synthesis lead to cancer development, it is not the full story. Recent studies are clearly showing that oncogenic signaling may monopolize the translational machinery at almost every stage of cancer initiation and development for very specific and distinct cellular outcomes (Figure 1).
For a primary cell to undergo cellular transformation, several tumor suppressive barriers must be overcome. As previously discussed, one of the earliest effects of oncogenic signals such as MYC or PI3K-AKT-mTOR hyperactivation is increased protein synthesis that leads to increased cell growth. This may provide a significant competitive advantage to a pre-neoplastic cell. For example, a larger cell may outcompete neighboring normal cells in uptake of nutrients and growth factors. Consequently, a somatic clone harboring such a cancerous lesion may possess an early competitive advantage through increased cell growth. The mechanism(s) by which the translational program links increases in cell growth to cell division remain poorly understood. Specifically, it is not clear whether proliferation is normally initiated due to an accumulation of total protein mass (cell size), or that this impacts directly on the translation of specific cell cycle mRNAs such as cyclins or replication enzymes. However, what is clear is that increases in protein synthesis set up a cell size threshold that is interpreted by the cell cycle machinery as a stimulus to commence cell division [47,48].
Increased cell division as a consequence of increased cell growth is not sufficient to induce cellular transformation. Indeed, a critical cellular response that counteracts cellular transformation is oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). OIS is characterized by cell cycle arrest and induction of p53, which restrains the proliferative potential of pre-neoplastic clones[49]. Our recent findings have shown that during OIS, a switch between cap- and IRES-dependent translation occurs [50]. During this switch, an IRES element positioned in the 5'UTR of p53 is engaged to promote p53 translation[5]. Therefore specialized translational control of mRNAs, such as p53, provides a molecular barrier for cellular transformation[5,8]. Interestingly, defects in rRNA modifications specifically perturb p53 IRES-dependent translation, resulting in defective OIS and expansion of pre-neoplastic clones[5]. This may be a critical mechanism that underlies cancer susceptibility in X-DC[5,8].
A subsequent mechanism that is critical to achieve full cellular transformation is the acquisition of additional genetic lesions, commonly referred to as secondary hits. Unexpectedly, deregulations in mitotic translational control have been shown to play an important role at this step, and may contribute to genomic instability[47]. During mitosis, only a small fraction of mRNAs are translated in a cap-independent manner via a switch to IRES-dependent translation[51,52]. CDK11/p58 is a well-characterized endogenous mRNA that is only translated during mitosis by an IRES element [53–55]. An aberrant increase in capdependent translation downstream of Myc hyperactivation specifically impairs this translational switch to IRES-dependent translation. This results in reduced mitotic-specific expression of CDK11/p58 that leads to cytokinesis defects and is associated with increased centrosome numbers and genome instability [47]. Thereby, deregulations in mitotic translation control may create additional genetic lesions that are required to achieve full cellular transformation.
Once a tumor has been established it will, again, progress through a number of stages and may ultimately become metastatic. An emerging concept is that tumor cells may survive stress-conditions such as nutrient and oxygen deprivation through their ability to promote cap-independent translation. This is achieved through translational control of specific anti-apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 and XIAP, which contain IRES-elements, as well as neo-angiogenic factors, such as VEGF, that enhance blood flow to the tumor [56–59]. Thereby, tumor cells have co-opted specific modes of translational regulation that impact on the expression of key tumor suppressors/oncogenes for their continued survival and development (Figure 1).
In summary, it is clear that manipulating translational regulation is important during almost every phase of tumor development. It also appears that different modes of translational regulation are deployed during distinct stages of tumor progression. It is noteworthy that translational control impinges on each checkpoint established to prevent cellular transformation and tumor growth, highlighting its importance in cancer development.
We are only beginning to understand the broad implications of translational regulation as it relates to cancer biology. Oncogenic signaling appears to monopolize translational control at almost every stage of cancer initiation and development for very specific and distinct cellular outcomes (Figure 1). Currently there is a shift towards a growing realization of the importance of specificity in translational regulation mediated by the core components of the translational apparatus. Key among these studies is the finding that loss of rRNA modification leads to a reduction in the translation of only specific mRNAs that harbor IRESelements. Mutant ribosomes lacking important constituents (such as ribosomal proteins or rRNA modifications) may be largely functionally active, but preferentially defective in specific aspects of translational control in a growing class of ribosomopathies. Moreover, studies of translational control in cancer have uncovered unexpected specificity in control of gene expression at the posttranscription level and highlight the dynamic nature of the translational machinery. There is a growing appreciation for the contributions of specific regulatory elements within mRNAs, such as the IRES elements, structured 5’UTRs, and sequences in 3’UTRs that are recognized by proteins or microRNAs, that control their expression during specific steps of cellular transformation and tumor development (Figures 1 and 2). Elucidating the relationship between these regulatory elements to oncogenic signaling pathways that feed into the translational machinery will be an exciting new area of research. The ultimate importance of this research is reflected by a number of novel and promising therapeutic approaches to target specific translational components in cancer that are currently in clinical trials.
​
Highlights
  • Deregulation of translational control is critical for cancer development.
  • Mutations in ribosome components are associated with cancer susceptibility syndromes.
  • Alterations in translational control impinge on distinct steps of cellular transformation.
  • Translational deregulation of specific mRNAs contributes to tumor initiation and progression
  • Specific regulatory elements control translation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Maria Barna and members of the Ruggero lab for input and critical reading of this review. Thank you to Kimhouy Tong for editing the manuscript. We apologize to the many scientists whose work we were unable to cite. Dr. Davide Ruggero is a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar. This work is supported by NIH R01 HL085572 (D.R.) and NIH R01 CA140456 (D. R.).
Footnotes
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