Unique alternative translation from two open reading frames onAcpin1mRNA yields an acrosomal protein and a salivary-gland-specific protein

Conserved Upstream Open Reading Frame Nascent Peptides That Control Translation

Cells utilize transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms to alter gene expression in response to environmental cues. Gene-specific controls, including changing the translation of specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs), provide a rapid means to respond precisely to different conditions. Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are known to control the translation of mRNAs. Recent studies in bacteria and eukaryotes have revealed the functions of evolutionarily conserved uORF-encoded peptides. Some of these uORF-encoded nascent peptides enable responses to specific metabolites to modulate the translation of their mRNAs by stalling ribosomes and through ribosome stalling may also modulate the level of their mRNAs. In this review, we highlight several examples of conserved uORF nascent peptides that stall ribosomes to regulate gene expression in response to specific metabolites in bacteria, fungi, mammals, and plants.

Nuclear termination of STAT3 signaling through SIPAR (STAT3-Interacting Protein As a Repressor)-dependent recruitment of T cell tyrosine phosphatase TC-PTP

STAT3 is associated with embryo development and survival as well as proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. In a previous study, we demonstrated that STAT3-Interacting Protein As a Repressor (SIPAR) enhances the dephosphorylation of STAT3 and negatively regulates its activity. However, it remains unclear how SIPAR inhibits phosphorylation of STAT3. Here we demonstrate that SIPAR directly interacts with T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase TC45 and enhances its association with STAT3. This interaction triggers an accelerated dephosphorylation process for STAT3. Furthermore, SIPAR inhibits the transcriptional activity of STAT3 in wild-type MEF cells but not in TC45 null MEF cells. These results suggest that SIPAR terminates the activation of STAT3 through a dephosphorylation process that is dependent upon interaction with TC45 in the nucleus.

SIPAR negatively regulates STAT3 signaling and inhibits progression of melanoma

Persistently activated STAT3 is important for tumorigenesis in a variety of cancers, including melanoma. Although many co-factors in the regulation of STAT3 activity have been identified, it remains unclear how STAT3 phosphorylation is negatively regulated. Here, we report that SIPAR (STAT3-Interacting Protein As a Repressor) inhibits STAT3 activity by accelerating its dephosphorylation. We observed that SIPAR directly interacted with STAT3 upon IL-6 stimulation. Moreover, over-expression of SIPAR reduced, whereas depletion enhanced, the level of phosphorylated STAT3. We further demonstrated that SIPAR inhibited the growth of melanoma cells by decreasing the level of phosphorylated STAT3 and the expression of its target genes. These results suggest that SIPAR, functioning as a new negative regulator, inhibits STAT3 activity by enhancing its dephosphorylation and represses melanoma progression.