Protein synthesis plays a major role in homeostasis and when dysregulated leads to various pathologies including cancer. To this end, imbalanced expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) is not only a consequence but also a driver of neoplastic growth. eIF3 is the largest, multi-subunit translation initiation complex with a modular assembly, where aberrant expression of one subunit generates only partially functional subcomplexes. To comprehensively study the effects of eIF3 remodeling, we contrasted the impact of eIF3d, eIF3e or eIF3h depletion on the translatome of HeLa cells using Ribo-seq. Depletion of eIF3d or eIF3e, but not eIF3h reduced the levels of multiple components of the MAPK signaling pathways. Surprisingly, however, depletion of all three eIF3 subunits increased MAPK/ERK pathway activity. Depletion of eIF3e and partially eIF3d also increased translation of TOP mRNAs that encode mainly ribosomal proteins and other components of the translational machinery. Moreover, alterations in eIF3 subunit stoichiometry were often associated with changes in translation of mRNAs containing short uORFs, as in the case of the proto-oncogene MDM2 and the transcription factor ATF4. Collectively, perturbations in eIF3 subunit stoichiometry exert specific effect on the translatome comprising signaling and stress-related transcripts with complex 5' UTRs that are implicated in homeostatic adaptation to stress and cancer.

• Keywords
• MAPK pathway, eIF3, genetics, genomics, human, ribosomal proteins, ribosome, translation, translational control,
• MeSH
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• HeLa Cells MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• MAP Kinase Signaling System * MeSH
• Protein Biosynthesis MeSH
• Proto-Oncogene Mas * MeSH
• Ribosomal Proteins * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 * MeSH
• MAS1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Proto-Oncogene Mas * MeSH
• Ribosomal Proteins * MeSH

The TcK2 protein kinase of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is structurally similar to the human kinase PERK, which phosphorylates the initiation factor eIF2α and, in turn, inhibits translation initiation. We have previously shown that absence of TcK2 kinase impairs parasite proliferation within mammalian cells, positioning it as a potential target for treatment of Chagas disease. To better understand its role in the parasite, here we initially confirmed the importance of TcK2 in parasite proliferation by generating CRISPR/Cas9 TcK2-null cells, albeit they more efficiently differentiate into infective forms. Proteomics indicates that the TcK2 knockout of proliferative forms expresses proteins including trans-sialidases, normally restricted to infective and nonproliferative trypomastigotes explaining decreased proliferation and better differentiation. TcK2 knockout cells lost phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 and cyclic AMP responsive-like element, recognized to promote growth, likely explaining both decreased proliferation and augmented differentiation. To identify specific inhibitors, a library of 379 kinase inhibitors was screened by differential scanning fluorimetry using a recombinant TcK2 encompassing the kinase domain and selected molecules were tested for kinase inhibition. Only Dasatinib and PF-477736, inhibitors of Src/Abl and ChK1 kinases, showed inhibitory activity with IC50 of 0.2 ± 0.02 mM and 0.8 ± 0.1, respectively. In infected cells Dasatinib inhibited growth of parental amastigotes (IC50 = 0.6 ± 0.2 mM) but not TcK2 of depleted parasites (IC50 > 34 mM) identifying Dasatinib as a potential lead for development of therapeutics for Chagas disease targeting TcK2.

• Keywords
• T.cruzi EIF2AK2, chagas disease, chemical inhibitor, eIF2α, invasion, protein kinase, proteome, recombinant protein,
• MeSH
• Chagas Disease * drug therapy   parasitology   MeSH
• Dasatinib MeSH
• eIF-2 Kinase genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Parasites * MeSH
• Cell Proliferation MeSH
• Mammals metabolism   MeSH
• Trypanosoma cruzi * genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Dasatinib MeSH
• eIF-2 Kinase MeSH

One of the key roles of the 12-subunit eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) is to promote the formation of the 43S and 48S pre-initiation complexes (PICs). However, particular contributions of its individual subunits to these two critical initiation reactions remained obscure. Here, we adapted formaldehyde gradient cross-linking protocol to translation studies and investigated the efficiency of the 43S and 48S PIC assembly in knockdowns of individual subunits of human eIF3 known to produce various partial subcomplexes. We revealed that eIF3d constitutes an important intermolecular bridge between eIF3 and the 40S subunit as its elimination from the eIF3 holocomplex severely compromised the 43S PIC assembly. Similarly, subunits eIF3a, c and e were found to represent an important binding force driving eIF3 binding to the 40S subunit. In addition, we demonstrated that eIF3c, and eIF3k and l subunits alter the efficiency of mRNA recruitment to 43S PICs in an opposite manner. Whereas the eIF3c knockdown reduces it, downregulation of eIF3k or eIF3l increases mRNA recruitment, suggesting that the latter subunits possess a regulatory potential. Altogether this study provides new insights into the role of human eIF3 in the initial assembly steps of the translational machinery.

• MeSH
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 genetics   MeSH
• Formaldehyde pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Messenger genetics   MeSH
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Protein Biosynthesis genetics   MeSH
• Cross-Linking Reagents pharmacology   MeSH
• Ribosomes genetics   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• EIF3C protein, human MeSH Browser
• EIF3D protein, human MeSH Browser
• EIF3K protein, human MeSH Browser
• EIF3L protein, human MeSH Browser
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 MeSH
• Formaldehyde MeSH
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins MeSH
• Cross-Linking Reagents MeSH