Democracy and the governance of uncertainty. The case of agricultural gene technologies

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture and food production is the object of an intense and divisive debate. Drawing on a study on the public perception of agricultural gene technologies carried out in five European countries, the article deals with the policy aspects of the issue, and more precisely on the relation between institutions, experts and the public in a context of deep uncertainty. A theoretical framework is developed and compared with the study findings, suggesting that issues like the GMOs one represent a strong case for a more participatory policy-making. My conclusions suggest a style of governance based on the principles of deliberative democracy, as a suitable approach to the confrontation of different viewpoints and forms of knowledge. This appears to be the best way to improve the overall quality of policy-making: in this I include its legitimacy, the degree of public trust, and also the actual quality of its products. Strengthening the role of the public sphere seems more effective than simply increasing direct decision-making by the populace, and it offers an alternative to the 'elitist' solutions to the crisis of representative democracy.

The survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein interacts with the snoRNP proteins fibrillarin and GAR1

BACKGROUND

The survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein is the protein product of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) disease gene. SMN and its associated proteins Gemin2, Gemin3, and Gemin4 form a large complex that plays a role in snRNP assembly, pre-mRNA splicing, and transcription. The functions of SMN in these processes are mediated by a direct interaction of SMN with components of these machineries, such as Sm proteins and RNA helicase A.

RESULTS

We show that SMN binds directly to fibrillarin and GAR1. Fibrillarin and GAR1 are specific markers of the two classes of small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles (snoRNPs) that are involved in posttranscriptional processing and modification of ribosomal RNA. SMN interaction requires the arginine- and glycine-rich domains of both fibrillarin and GAR1 and is defective in SMN mutants found in some SMA patients. Coimmunoprecipitations demonstrate that the SMN complex associates with fibrillarin and with GAR1 in vivo. The inhibition of RNA polymerase I transcription causes a transient redistribution of SMN to the nucleolar periphery and loss of fibrillarin and GAR1 colocalization with SMN in gems. Furthermore, the expression of a dominant-negative mutant of SMN (SMNDeltaN27) causes snoRNPs to accumulate outside of the nucleolus in structures that also contain components of gems and coiled (Cajal) bodies.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings identify fibrillarin and GAR1 as novel interactors of SMN and suggest a function for the SMN complex in the assembly and metabolism of snoRNPs. We propose that the SMN complex performs functions necessary for the biogenesis and function of diverse ribonucleoprotein complexes.

The myth of the best argument: power, deliberation and reason

Power in communication takes two main forms. As 'external' power, it consists in the ability to acknowledge or disregard a speaker or a discourse. As 'internal' power, it is the ability of an argument to eliminate other arguments by demonstrating its superiority. A positive or negative value may be ascribed to these forms of power. Four ideal-typical positions are discussed--strategy, technocracy, constructionism, and deliberation. Public deliberation has three virtues--civic virtue, governance virtue and cognitive virtue. Deliberation lowers the propensity to, and the benefit of, strategic behaviour. It also increases knowledge, enhancing the quality of decisions. For Habermas, the unity of reason is expressed in the possibility of agreement on the most convincing argument. However, sometimes conflicts are deep-lying, principles and factual descriptions are profoundly different, and uncertainty is radical. The best argument cannot be found. There is no universal reason. The question is whether non-strategic agreement may spring from the incommensurability of languages. In search of an answer, Rawls's concept of overlapping consensus, the feminist theory of the public sphere, and the idea of deliberation as co-operation are discussed. The argument developed is that the approach to deliberative democracy may be renewed by rethinking its motivational and cognitive elements. Public deliberation is grounded on a pre-political level of co-operation. Intractable controversies may be faced at the level of practices, looking for local, contextual answers.

Technological risk, participation and deliberation. Some results from three Italian case studies

Participation is a major issue in environmental research and policy. Public Risk Perception and European Environmental Policy (PRISP), a cross-national inquiry on people's orientations about chemical risks, offered the opportunity to investigate some aspects. In two Italian case studies, interest was focused on the relation between experts and lay people and the function of participation. A key objective was to explore people's opinions about deliberative democracy. This is a currently much-debated alternative to the prevailing 'strategic' forms of democracy, based on the aggregation of preferences or bargaining among conflicting interests. Is there a role for an open confrontation aimed at reaching the common good? Results show that public interest is highly rated, participation is mainly connected to citizenship and understood as a form of co-operation. In a third case study, interest was focused on the analysis of a specific form of collective action according to the 'Critical Mass' rational choice model. In this case, it is argued that a small group of citizens may reduce the costs of starting-up a collective action aimed at pursuing the preferred social goals, i.e. at governing public goods.

The survival motor neuron protein of Schizosacharomyces pombe. Conservation of survival motor neuron interaction domains in divergent organisms

Spinal muscular atrophy is a common often lethal neurodegenerative disease resulting from deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron gene (SMN). SMN is ubiquitously expressed in metazoan cells and plays a role in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein assembly and pre-mRNA splicing. Here we characterize the Schizosacharomyces pombe orthologue of SMN (yeast SMN (ySMN)). We report that the ySMN protein is essential for viability and localizes in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Like human SMN, we show that ySMN can oligomerize. Remarkably, ySMN interacts directly with human SMN and Sm proteins. The highly conserved carboxyl-terminal domain of ySMN is necessary for the evolutionarily conserved interactions of SMN and required for cell viability. We also demonstrate that the conserved amino-terminal region of ySMN is not required for SMN and Sm binding but is critical for the housekeeping function of SMN.

SMN mutants of spinal muscular atrophy patients are defective in binding to snRNP proteins

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common motor neuron degenerative disease and the leading genetic cause of death of young children. The survival of motor neurons (SMN) gene, the SMA disease gene, is homozygously deleted or mutated in more than 98% of SMA patients. The SMN protein interacts with itself, with SMN-interacting protein 1, and with several spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) Sm proteins. A complex containing SMN plays a critical role in spliceosomal snRNP assembly and in pre-mRNA splicing. SMN mutants found in SMA patients show reduced self-association and lack the capacity to regenerate the splicing machinery. Here we demonstrate that SMN mutants found in SMA patients are defective in binding to Sm proteins. Moreover, we show that SMN, but not mutants found in SMA patients, can form large oligomers and that SMN oligomerization is required for high-affinity binding to spliceosomal snRNP Sm proteins. These findings directly link the impaired interaction between SMN and Sm proteins to a defect in snRNP metabolism and to SMA.

A novel function for SMN, the spinal muscular atrophy disease gene product, in pre-mRNA splicing

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common motor neuron degenerative disease that results from reduced levels of, or mutations in, the Survival of Motor Neurons (SMN) protein. SMN is found in the cytoplasm and the nucleus where it is concentrated in gems. SMN interacts with spliceosomal snRNP proteins and is critical for snRNP assembly in the cytoplasm. We show that a dominant-negative mutant SMN (SMNdeltaN27) causes a dramatic reorganization of snRNPs in the nucleus. Furthermore, SMNdeltaN27 inhibits pre-mRNA splicing in vitro, while wild-type SMN stimulates splicing. SMN mutants found in SMA patients cannot stimulate splicing. These findings demonstrate that SMN plays a crucial role in the generation of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery and thus in mRNA biogenesis, and they link the function of SMN in this pathway to SMA.

Involvement of the Xenopus laevis Ro60 autoantigen in the alternative interaction of La and CNBP proteins with the 5'UTR of L4 ribosomal protein mRNA

In vertebrates the synthesis of ribosomal proteins is co-ordinately regulated at the translational level. The 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) of this class of mRNAs contains conserved regions that are necessary and sufficient for translational regulation. Recently, we found that two proteins, the Xenopus laevis La autoantigen and the cellular nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP), are able to bind in vitro a pyrimidine tract at the 5' end and a downstream region, respectively. These regions are considered the common cis-acting elements of translational regulation. It was previously observed that the binding of both these putative trans-acting factors to their RNA sequences is assisted by a protease-sensitive factor(s) that dissociates from the complex after its formation. Here we provide evidence that the requirement for an ancillary factor assisting La binding to the pyrimidine tract of ribosomal protein mRNAs is typical of this RNA, and secondly that it may involve an RNA recognition motif of the La protein not clearly characterized previously. We also show that the Ro60 autoantigen is involved in the common factor activity necessary for the binding of La and CNBP proteins to their respective sequences. In addition, our findings suggest that an RNA also participates in this process. We show that CNBP can multimerise and that it binds to the 5'UTR as a dimer. Both La and CNBP compete for the interaction with the factor, and their binding to the 5'UTR is mutually exclusive. Our results from the binding analysis of mutations in the 5'UTR, which are known to disrupt the translational control in vivo, suggest a model in which the protein interactions and the 5'UTR RNA structure may co-operate in regulating the translational fate of ribosomal protein mRNAs.

Cellular nucleic acid binding protein binds a conserved region of the 5' UTR of Xenopus laevis ribosomal protein mRNAs

Vertebrate ribosomal protein mRNAs share structural features in the 5' untranslated region implicated in the control of their translation. A pyrimidine tract, at the 5' end, is considered the common cis-acting element, but the control requires also the integrity of the conserved downstream region. These sequences interact in vitro with proteins, which may represent the trans-acting factors for a common regulation. The protein that binds the pyrimidine tract has been identified as La and its binding in vitro depends on interaction with a protein factor. In the present study, by purification, microsequencing and immunoprecipitation analysis we have identified the protein that interacts with the region downstream of the pyrimidine tract as the Xenopus laevis cellular nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP). The interaction of this protein with the conserved region of various ribosomal protein (rp)-mRNAs suggests a class-specific recognition. The binding of CNBP to the target region requires the assistance of a protease-sensitive factor, that dissociates after complex formation. Some evidence suggests that this may be the same factor that assists the binding of La to the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the rp-mRNAs. Considering that CNBP and La come in contact with two typical regions of the 5' UTR, essential for regulation, their interaction with the assisting factor may exert a modulating activity on the translational control of ribosomal protein mRNAs.

A Xenopus laevis homologue of the La autoantigen binds the pyrimidine tract of the 5' UTR of ribosomal protein mRNAs in vitro: implication of a protein factor in complex formation

In Xenopus and other vertebrates, ribosomal protein mRNAs share a common sequence in the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR), in particular a pyrimidine tract at the 5' end, which has been demonstrated to be involved in the translational regulation of this class of mRNAs. In previous studies, carried out in the Xenopus system, we demonstrated the specific binding of two proteins (57 kDa and 47 kDa) to the pyrimidine tract of the mRNAs for three different ribosomal proteins. Here, we show that the two binding proteins are in fact one; one being the cleavage product of the other. By immunoprecipitation and protein purification, this binding protein has been identified as the Xenopus homologue of the human La autoantigen, an RNA-binding protein previously reported to be implicated in RNA polymerase III transcription termination and in translation initiation of poliovirus and immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNAs. We show that the specific interaction of La with the 5' pyrimidine tract of ribosomal protein mRNA is mediated by a protease-sensitive factor, which, after assisting La-RNA binding, dissociates from the complex and becomes again available to promote further binding. We show that mutations in the 5' UTR pyrimidine tract, known to disrupt the translational control of ribosomal protein mRNA, severely impair La binding. Although a direct relationship between ribosomal protein mRNA translation and La binding is not yet available, the properties of the interaction suggest that La protein, possibly together with other components, might be involved in translational regulation.

Structure and expression of ribosomal protein genes in Xenopus laevis

In Xenopus laevis, as well as in other vertebrates, ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) are coded by a class of genes that share some organizational and structural features. One of these, also common to genes coding for other proteins involved in the translation apparatus synthesis and function, is the presence within their introns of sequences coding for small nucleolar RNAs. Another feature is the presence of common structures, mainly in the regions surrounding the 5' ends, involved in their coregulated expression. This is attained at various regulatory levels: transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and translational. Particular attention is given here to regulation at the translational level, which has been studied during Xenopus oogenesis and embryogenesis and also during nutritional changes of Xenopus cultured cells. This regulation, which responds to the cellular need for new ribosomes, operates by changing the fraction of rp-mRNA (ribosomal protein mRNA) engaged on polysomes. A typical 5' untranslated region characterizing all vertebrate rp-mRNAs analyzed to date is responsible for this translational behaviour: it is always short and starts with an 8-12 nucleotide polypyrimidine tract. This region binds in vitro some proteins that can represent putative trans-acting factors for this translational regulation.

Sequence of the cDNA and gene coding for ribosomal protein S1 of Xenopus laevis

The cloning and complete sequencing of one of the two gene copies coding for ribosomal protein (r-protein) S1 in Xenopus laevis and of the corresponding cDNA are reported. The comparison of the sequence of this cDNA (S1b) with the other (S1a) previously reported, reveals that, while the two DNA sequences have diverged somewhat, the amino-acid sequences are mostly unchanged. The two gene copies are apparently expressed at comparable levels, since the two corresponding mRNAs are similary represented in oocyte poly(A) RNA. The S1b gene has a total length of about 12000 nt and is composed of seven exons and six introns. By primer extension, it has been determined that the transcription start point is located in a pyrimidine-rich tract, as observed for all r-protein genes of X. laevis and other vertebrates so far analyzed. A computer analysis of the S1 sequence has shown the presence of a 150-nt sequence repeated in introns 3, 5 and 6, which is homologous to the one reported in the first intron of mammalian r-protein S3 gene. Furthermore, a 130-nt sequence is tandemly repeated 2.5 times at each of the two sites near the beginning and near the end of the first intron.

Different forms of U15 snoRNA are encoded in the introns of the ribosomal protein S1 gene of Xenopus laevis

Recent cloning and sequencing of one of the two Xenopus gene copies (S1b) coding for the ribosomal protein S1 has revealed that its introns III, V and VI carry a region of about 150 nt that shares an identity of 60%. We show here the presence in Xenopus oocytes and cultured cells of a 143-147 nt long RNA species encoded by these three repeated sequences on the same strand as the S1 mRNA and by at least one repeat present in the S1 a copy of the r-protein gene. We identify these RNAs as forms of the small nucleolar RNA U15 (U15 snoRNA) because of their sequence homology with an already described human U15 RNA encoded in the first intron of the human r-protein S3 gene, which is homologous to Xenopus S1. Comparison of the various Xenopus and human U15 RNA forms shows a very high conservation in some regions, but considerable divergence in others. In particular the most conserved sequences include two box C and two box D motifs, typical of most snoRNAs interacting with the nucleolar protein fibrillarin. Adjacent to the two D boxes there are two sequences, 9 and 10 nt in length, which are perfectly complementary to an evolutionary conserved sequence of the 28S rRNA. Modeling the possible secondary structure of Xenopus and human U15 RNAs reveals that, in spite of the noticeable sequence diversity, a high structural conservation in some cases may be maintained by compensatory mutations. We show also that the different Xenopus U15 RNA forms are expressed at comparable levels, localized in the nucleoli and produced by processing of the intronic sequences, as recently described for other snoRNAs.