Translation of Human β-Actin mRNA is Regulated by mTOR Pathway

• Main Authors: Irina Eliseeva, Maria Vasilieva, Lev P. Ovchinnikov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Genes
• Subjects: translation regulation; mRNA; β-actin; ACTB; mTOR; amino acid starvation; 5’UTR
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/10/2/96

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is a well-known master regulator of growth-dependent gene expression in higher eukaryotes. Translation regulation is an important function of the mTORC1 pathway that controls the synthesis of many ribosomal proteins and translation factors. Housekeeping genes such as <i>&#946;-actin</i> (<i>ACTB</i>) are widely used as negative control genes in studies of growth-dependent translation. Here we demonstrate that translation of both endogenous and reporter <i>ACTB</i> mRNA is inhibited in the presence of mTOR kinase inhibitor (Torin1) and under amino acid starvation. Notably, 5&#8217;UTR and promoter of <i>ACTB</i> are sufficient for the mTOR-dependent translational response, and the degree of mTOR-sensitivity of <i>ACTB</i> mRNA translation is cell type-dependent.