Iron-responsive Element-binding Protein Research Articles

In vivo, high-resolution analysis of yeast and mammalian RNA-protein interactions, RNA structure, RNA splicing and ribozyme cleavage by use of terminal transferase-dependent PCR.

We have investigated the analysis of RNA by use of terminal transferase-dependent PCR (TDPCR), a procedure previously used for the analysis of DNA and chromatin [J. Komura and A.D.Riggs, Nucleic Acids Res.,26, 1807-1811 (1998)]. When preceded by reverse transcription (RT), TDPCR provides an extremely sensitive, versatile, quantitative and nucleotide-level assay for detecting RNA lesions or structures that block primer extension during the RT step. The procedure is: (i) RT using a gene-specific oligonucleotide; (ii) ribo-tailing of the single-stranded cDNA product by use of terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase; (iii) ligation of a DNA linker to the tailed cDNA by use of T4 DNA ligase; and (iv) PCR using a nested, gene-specific primer and a linker-specific primer. This procedure combines the versatility of a primer extension assay with nucleotide-level resolution, the specificity of nested primers and the sensitivity of PCR. Band patterns obtained are reproducible and quantifiable. We successfully used the technique for the study of yeast RNA structure, splicing intermediates and ribozyme cleavage. Also, in vivo footprint experiments, using mammalian cells and RNase T1, revealed the binding of iron-responsive element binding protein to iron responsive elements in the mRNAs of transferrin receptor and ferritin H-chain.

Translation driven by an eIF4G core domain in vivo.

Most eukaryotic mRNAs possess a 5' cap structure (m(7)GpppN) and a 3' poly(A) tail which promote translation initiation by binding the eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF)4E and the poly(A) binding protein (PABP), respectively. eIF4G can bridge between eIF4E and PABP, and-through eIF3-is thought to establish a link to the small ribosomal subunit. We fused the C-terminal region of human eIF4GI lacking both the eIF4E- and PABP-binding sites, to the IRE binding protein IRP-1. This chimeric protein suffices to direct the translation of the downstream cistron of bicistronic mRNAs bearing IREs in their intercistronic space in vivo. This function is preserved even when translation via the 5' end is inhibited. Deletion analysis defined the conserved central domain (amino acids 642-1091) of eIF4G as an autonomous 'ribosome recruitment core' and implicated eIF4A as a critical binding partner. Our data reveal the sufficiency of the conserved eIF4G ribosome recruitment core to drive productive mRNA translation in living cells. The C-terminal third of eIF4G is dispensable, and may serve as a regulatory domain.

Novel role of phosphorylation in Fe-S cluster stability revealed by phosphomimetic mutations at Ser-138 of iron regulatory protein 1.

Animals regulate iron metabolism largely through the action of the iron regulatory proteins (IRPs). IRPs modulate mRNA utilization by binding to iron-responsive elements (IRE) in the 5' or 3' untranslated region of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in iron homeostasis or energy production. IRP1 is also the cytosolic isoform of aconitase. The activities of IRP1 are mutually exclusive and are modulated through the assembly/disassembly of its [4Fe-4S] cluster, reversibly converting it between an IRE-binding protein and cytosolic aconitase. IRP1 is also phosphoregulated by protein kinase C, but the mechanism by which phosphorylation posttranslationally increases IRE binding activity has not been fully defined. To investigate this, Ser-138 (S138), a PKC phosphorylation site, was mutated to phosphomimetic glutamate (S138E), aspartate (S138D), or nonphosphorylatable alanine (S138A). The S138E IRP1 mutant and, to a lesser extent, the S138D IRP1 mutant were impaired in aconitase function in yeast when grown aerobically but not when grown anaerobically. Purified wild-type and mutant IRP1s could be reconstituted to active aconitases anaerobically. However, when exposed to oxygen, the [4Fe-4S] cluster of the S138D and S138E mutants decayed 5-fold and 20-fold faster, respectively, than was observed for wild-type IRP1. Our findings suggest that stability of the Fe-S cluster of IRP1 can be regulated by phosphorylation and reveal a mechanism whereby the balance between the IRE binding and [4Fe-4S] forms of IRP1 can be modulated independently of cellular iron status. Furthermore, our results show that IRP1 can function as an oxygen-modulated posttranscriptional regulator of gene expression.

The location of Z- and W-linked marker genes and sequence on the homomorphic sex chromosomes of the ostrich and the emu.

Perhaps the most striking fact about early Cenozoic avian history some 70 million years ago was the rapid radiation of large, flightless, ground-living birds. It has been suggested that, for a time, there was active competition between these large terrestrial birds and the early mammals. Probably reflecting the above noted early start of Ratitae of the infraclass Eoaves, the presumptive sex chromosomes of their present day survivors, such as the emu and the ostrich, largely remained homomorphic. The signs of genetic differentiation between their still-homomorphic Z and W chromosomes were tested by using two marker genes (Z-linked ZOV3 and the gene for the iron-responsive element-binding protein) and one marker sequence of a part of a presumptive pseudogene (W-linked EE0.6 of the chicken). Their homologues, maintaining 71-92% identities to the chicken counterparts, were found in both the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and the ostrich (Struthio camelus). Their locations were visualized on chromosome preparations by fluorescence in situ hybridization. In the case of the emu, these three marker sequences were localized on both members of the fifth pair of a female, thus revealing no sign yet of genetic differentiation between the Z and the W. The finding was the same with regard to both members of the fourth pair of male ostriches. In the female ostrich, however, the sequence of the gene for the iron-responsive element-binding protein was missing from one of the pairs, thus revealing the differentiation by a small deletion of the W from the Z.

Aluminum taken up by transferrin-independent iron uptake affects the iron metabolism in rat cortical cells.

We previously demonstrated that cultured human fibroblasts internalize iron via transferrin-independent iron uptake (Tf-IU), redox, and receptor-mediated endocytosis uptake systems [Oshiro, S., Nakajima, H., Markello, T., Krasnewich, D., Bernardini, I., and Gahl, W.A. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 21586 21591]. Of these iron transport systems, the Tf-IU system is involved in the accumulation of transition metals in various mammalian cells. It is also known that in experimental animals fed aluminum (Al), Al at micromolar level selectively accumulates in the brain. In the present study, we examined the effects of Al accumulated in the brain cells on iron transport by the Tf-IU system and iron metabolism, using primary cultures from fetal rat cerebral cortex. Pretreatment of cells with 200 microM Al-nitrilotriacetate upregulated the Tf-IU system for iron. Moreover, of various metals tested, Al markedly upregulated the Tf-IU activity. To examine the influence of Al on iron metabolism, the interaction between Al accumulated in the cells and iron-responsive element binding protein (IRE-BP), a cellular iron regulator, was examined by Northern blot analysis, and activity assay: Al decreased the Tf receptor mRNA level and increased the aconitase activity of IRE-BP. The increase of aconitase activity by Al was also observed in vitro. These results suggest that Al accumulated in cortical cells affects iron metabolism.

4] Measuring nitric oxide and superoxide: Rate constants for aconitase reactivity

This chapter discusses the sensitive measurement of intracellular oxidant concentrations. The usefulness of measuring aconitase activity, the role of the disassembly/reassembly of the [4Fe- 4S] cluster of the cytosolic aconitase in iron metabolism suggests a regulatory function for the oxidizing metabolites formed inside cells. The citric acid cycle enzyme aconitase is a dehydratase that catalyzes the reversible interconversion of citrate to isocitrate through the intermediate cis -aconitate. The active enzyme contains a cubane [4Fe-4S] 2+ cluster. Cytosolic aconitase is identical to the iron-responsive element-binding protein (IREBP), which regulates the biosynthesis of ferritin and the transferrin receptor by binding to untranslated regions of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for these proteins. The IRE-BP has aconitase activity when its [4Fe-4S] cluster is intact, and acquires mRNA-binding activity, with a concomitant loss of aconitase activity, when the iron-sulfur cluster is disassembled. Aconitase activity can be measured spectrophotometrically as the formation of cis -aconitate from isocitrate, by following the increase in absorbance at 240 nm. If the rate constants for inactivation and reactivation are known, intracellular O 2 – concentrations can be estimated using determined aconitase activities.

Modulation of Iron Regulatory Protein Functions: FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO THE ROLE OF NITROGEN- AND OXYGEN-DERIVED REACTIVE SPECIES

Iron regulatory protein (IRP) is a cytosolic bifunctional [Fe-S] protein which exhibits aconitase activity or binds iron responsive elements (IREs) in untranslated regions of specific mRNA. The modulators of these activities are the intracellular concentration of iron and, as recently described, NO synthase activity. In this study, we attempted to establish in in vitro experiments whether peroxynitrite (ONOO-, the product of the reaction between NO and O2-.), as well as oxygen-derived radicals (O2-. and H2O2) and various NO donors, allow IRP to bind IREs using cytosol extract of macrophagelike RAW 264.7 cells. Neither the addition of a bolus of ONOO- or H2O2 nor O2-. generation significantly affected IRE binding even though they inhibited its aconitase activity. Moreover, we show that 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a chemical which releases both NO and O2-. enhanced IRE binding activity of IRP only in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD). S-Nitrosothiols and the NONOate sper/NO plus gluthathione (GSH) activated IRE binding by IRP whereas oxyhemoglobin prevented enhancement of this binding by SIN-1/SOD and sper/NO plus GSH. cis-Aconitate, substrate, also abolished the effect of SIN-1/SOD on IRE binding by IRP. These results imply that neither O2-. nor ONOO- can convert [4Fe-4S] IRP into IRE-binding protein but rather suggest that an active redox form of NO converts IRP into its IRE binding form by targeting the [Fe-S] cluster.

Molecular Basis for the Recently Described Hereditary Hyperferritinemia-Cataract Syndrome: A Mutation in the Iron-Responsive Element of Ferritin L-Subunit Gene (the “Verona Mutation”)

Recently,we described a new genetic disorder (the “hereditary hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome”) clinically characterized by the combination of elevated serum ferritin and congenital bilateral nuclear cataract, both cotransmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. In affected subjects, hyperferritinemia (ranging from 950 to 2,259 micrograms/L) is typically not related to iron overload. Differently from subjects with hereditary hemochromatosis, they have normal to low levels of serum iron and percent of transferrin saturation and absence of iron overload in parenchymal organs. When unnecessary phlebotomies are performed, they rapidly develop iron-deficient anemia, with persistently elevated levels of serum ferritin. By RNA-single-strand conformation polymorphism screening of the L-subunit ferritin gene on chromosome 19, we were able to identify in affected subjects a mutation in the 5′ untranslated region. This mutation involves the five nucleotides sequence [CAGUG] of the iron-responsive element (IRE), which is critical for the posttranscriptional regulation of ferritin synthesis by means of IRE-binding protein (IRE-BP). Thus, it is very likely to provide the molecular basis for the iron-insensitive upregulation of ferritin synthesis in affected subjects.

The effect of redox-related species of nitrogen monoxide on transferrin and iron uptake and cellular proliferation of erythroleukemia (K562) cells

The iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) modulates both ferritin mRNA translation and transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA stability by binding to specific mRNA sequences called iron-responsive elements (IREs). The regulation of IRE-BP in situ could possibly occur either through its Fe-S cluster and/or via free cysteine sulphydryl groups such as cysteine 437 (Philpott et al, J Biol Chem 268:17655, 1993; and Hirling et al, EMBO J 13:453, 1994). Recently, nitrogen monoxide (NO) has been shown to have markedly different biologic effects depending on its redox state (Lipton et al, Nature 364:626, 1993). Considering this fact, it is conceivable that the NO group, as either the nitrosonium ion (NO+) or nitric oxide (NO+), may regulate IRE-BP activity by S-nitrosylation of key sulphydryl groups or via ligation of NO. to the Fe-S cluster, respectively. This hypothesis has been examined using the NO+ generator, sodium nitroprusside (SNP); the NO. generator, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP); and the NO./peroxynitrite (ONOO-) generator, 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1). Treatment of K562 cells for 18 hours with SNP (1 mmol/L) resulted in a pronounced decrease in both the RNA-binding activity of IRE-BP and the level of TfR mRNA. In addition, Scatchard analysis showed a marked decrease in the number of specific Tf-binding sites, from 590,000/cell (control) to 170,000/cell (test), and there was also a distinct decrease in Fe uptake. Furthermore, SNP did not decrease cellular viability or proliferation. In contrast, the NO. generator, SNAP (1 mmol/L), increased RNA-binding activity of IRE-BP, the level of TfR mRNA, and the number of TfRs in K562 cells. Moreover, both SNAP (1 mmol/L) and SIN-1 (0.5 mmol/L) reduced cellular proliferation. The results are discussed in context of the possible physiologic role of redox-related species of NO in regulating iron metabolism.

The Effect of Redox-Related Species of Nitrogen Monoxide on Transferrin and Iron Uptake and Cellular Proliferation of Erythroleukemia (K562) Cells

The iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) modulates both ferritin mRNA translation and transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA stability by binding to specific mRNA sequences called iron-responsive elements (IREs). The regulation of IRE-BP in situ could possibly occur either through its Fe-S cluster and/or via free cysteine sulphydryl groups such as cysteine 437 (Philpott et al, J Biol Chem 268:17655, 1993; and Hirling et al, EMBO J 13:453, 1994). Recently, nitrogen monoxide (NO) has been shown to have markedly different biologic effects depending on its redox state (Lipton et al, Nature 364:626, 1993). Considering this fact, it is conceivable that the NO group, as either the nitrosonium ion (NO+) or nitric oxide (NO+), may regulate IRE-BP activity by S-nitrosylation of key sulphydryl groups or via ligation of NO. to the Fe-S cluster, respectively. This hypothesis has been examined using the NO+ generator, sodium nitroprusside (SNP); the NO. generator, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP); and the NO./peroxynitrite (ONOO-) generator, 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1). Treatment of K562 cells for 18 hours with SNP (1 mmol/L) resulted in a pronounced decrease in both the RNA-binding activity of IRE-BP and the level of TfR mRNA. In addition, Scatchard analysis showed a marked decrease in the number of specific Tf-binding sites, from 590,000/cell (control) to 170,000/cell (test), and there was also a distinct decrease in Fe uptake. Furthermore, SNP did not decrease cellular viability or proliferation. In contrast, the NO. generator, SNAP (1 mmol/L), increased RNA-binding activity of IRE-BP, the level of TfR mRNA, and the number of TfRs in K562 cells. Moreover, both SNAP (1 mmol/L) and SIN-1 (0.5 mmol/L) reduced cellular proliferation. The results are discussed in context of the possible physiologic role of redox-related species of NO in regulating iron metabolism.

Iron-responsive element-binding protein in hemochromatosis liver and intestine

Iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) activity was studied in liver and intestinal samples of hemochromatosis and control patients using a short 32P-IRE-RNA probe on “retardation” nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. IRE-BP activity was assessed in liver biopsy specimens in 36 patients—16 hemochromatosis homozygotes, 4 hemochromatosis heterozygotes, 6 patients with secondary iron overload, and 10 control patients with normal hepatic iron concentrations. Intestinal IRE-BP activity was assessed in 14 hemochromatosis homozygotes and 16 normal subjects. Endogenous IREBP activity was determined from 32P retarded on the gel, and total IRE-BP activity was assessed after reducing tissue samples with 2-mercaptoethanol. Hepatic endogenous IRE-BP activity was inversely related to hepatic iron concentration ( r = −.59, P < .0002). Mean hepatic endogenous IRE-BP activity in the hemochromatosis homozygotes, 0.25 ± 0.04 μmol/mg protein, was significantly decreased compared with values in the normal controls, 0.45 ± 0.06 pmol/mg protein, P < .05. Hepatic total IRE-BP was also significantly decreased in the hemochromatosis patients by gel retardation assay and Western blotting with anti-IRE-BP antibody. Intestinal endogenous IRE-BP activity, total IRE-BP activity, and iron concentration did not significantly differ between hemochromatosis patients and normal control subjects. This suggests that both endogenous IRE-BP activity and the total amount of the protein are downregulated in the liver by tissue iron. Intestinal IRE-BP activity that regulates intestinal transferrin receptor expression is normal in hemochromatosis and appropriate for the intracellular iron concentration.

Iron-responsive element-binding protein in hemochromatosis liver and intestine

Iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) activity was studied in liver and intestinal samples of hemochromatosis and control patients using a short 32P-IRE-RNA probe on "retardation" nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. IRE-BP activity was assessed in liver biopsy specimens in 36 patients--16 hemochromatosis homozygotes, 4 hemochromatosis heterozygotes, 6 patients with secondary iron overload, and 10 control patients with normal hepatic iron concentrations. Intestinal IRE-BP activity was assessed in 14 hemochromatosis homozygotes and 16 normal subjects. Endogenous IRE-BP activity was determined from 32P retarded on the gel, and total IRE-BP activity was assessed after reducing tissue samples with 2-mercaptoethanol. Hepatic endogenous IRE-BP activity was inversely related to hepatic iron concentration (r = .59, P < .0002). Mean hepatic endogenous IRE-BP activity in the hemochromatosis homozygotes, 0.25 +/- 0.04 pmol/mg protein, was significantly decreased compared with values in the normal controls, 0.45 +/- 0.06 pmol/mg protein, P < .05. Hepatic total IRE-BP was also significantly decreased in the hemochromatosis patients by gel retardation assay and Western blotting with anti-IRE-BP antibody. Intestinal endogenous IRE-BP activity, total IRE-BP activity, and iron concentration did not significantly differ between hemochromatosis patients and normal control subjects. This suggests that both endogenous IRE-BP activity and the total amount of the protein are downregulated in the liver by tissue iron. Intestinal IRE-BP activity that regulates intestinal transferrin receptor expression is normal in hemochromatosis and appropriate for the intracellular iron concentration.

Ascorbic Acid Enhances Ferritin mRNA Translation by an IRP/Aconitase Switch

Replenishment of ascorbate in cultured cells, which are almost uniformly vitamin-deficient, increases ferritin mRNA translation in response to iron by 20-fold (Toth, I., Rogers, J. T., McPhee, J. A., Elliott, S. M., Abramson, S. L., and Bridges, K. R. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 2846-2852). We now demonstrate that ascorbate increases cytosolic aconitase activity. The iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRP-1) exists in three states: bound to mRNA without aconitase activity, free in the cytosol without aconitase activity, and free in the cytosol with aconitase activity. Ascorbate converts free IRP-1 to the enzymatically active form. Enhanced ferritin synthesis with subsequent iron stimulation is due to the altered equilibrium of the free IRP-1. The cellular biology of iron is closely intertwined with that of ascorbate.

Characterization of the nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial aconitase in the marine red alga Gracilaria verrucosa

We have cloned a nuclear gene from the marine red alga Gracilaria verrucosa that encodes the complete 779 amino-acid mitochondrial aconitase (m-ACN), the first characterized from a photosynthetic organism. The N-terminal 28 deduced amino acids are predicted to constitute the mitochondrial transit peptide, the first described from a red alga. Putative transcriptional cis-acting elements were identified in the upstream untranslated region. The G. verrucosa m-ACN gene (m-ACN) is present in a single copy and is located ca. 1.5 kb upstream from the single-copy polyubiquitin gene. The single spliceosomal intron is located near the 5' end of the region encoding the mature m-ACN in precisely the same location and phase as intron 2 in Caenorhabditis elegans m-ACN; sequences at its 3' and 5' splice junctions and at the predicted lariat branch point conform well to the eukaryote consensus sequences. Multiple protein-sequence alignment of m-ACN, bacterial aconitase (b-ACN) and iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP), and phylogenetic analyses, revealed that m-ACN does not share a recent common ancestry with either b-ACN or IRE-BP.

5-Aminolevulinate synthase and the first step of heme biosynthesis.

5-Aminolevulinate synthase catalyzes the condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA to yield 5-aminolevulinate. In animals, fungi, and some bacteria, 5-aminolevulinate synthase is the first enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Mutations on the human erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, which is localized on the X-chromosome, have been associated with X-linked sideroblastic anemia. Recent biochemical and molecular biological developments provide important insights into the structure and function of this enzyme. In animals, two aminolevulinate synthase genes, one housekeeping and one erythroid-specific, have been identified. In addition, the isolation of 5-aminolevulinate synthase genomic and cDNA clones have permitted the development of expression systems, which have tremendously increased the yields of purified enzyme, facilitating structural and functional studies. A lysine residue has been identified as the residue involved in the Schiff base linkage of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor, and the catalytic domain has been assigned to the C-terminus of the enzyme. A conserved glycine-rich motif, common to all aminolevulinate synthases, has been proposed to be at the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-binding site. A heme-regulatory motif, present in the presequences of 5-aminolevulinate synthase precursors, has been shown to mediate the inhibition of the mitochondrial import of the precursor proteins in the presence of heme. Finally, the regulatory mechanisms, exerted by an iron-responsive element binding protein, during the translation of erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA, are discussed in relation to heme biosynthesis.

A 3′-Untranslated Region of Catalase Messenger-RNA Composed of a Stem-Loop and Dinucleotide Repeat Elements Binds a 69-kDa Redox-Sensitive Protein

Rat lung extract contains protein that forms redox-sensitive, specific complexes with a 1130-base catalase cRNA ( J. Biol. Chem. 267, 2853-2855, 1992). The present paper reports studies aimed at delimiting the site of protein binding on the RNA and characterizing the protein. A 240-base sequence was identified as the 3′ untranslated region of catalase mRNA that binds lung protein in a redox-sensitive manner. Two elements within this 240-base region bind protein; one is a 36-base element that has a computer-predicted stem-loop secondary structure and the other is a CA dinucleotide repeat. Competition studies indicate that both elements are required for specific binding. Cross-competition experiments demonstrated that catalase RNA-binding protein (CAT-BP) is not the iron-responsive element-binding protein. Ultraviolet light-induced cross-linking and two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that CAT-BP has an apparent molecular mass of 69 kDa and appears to be composed of four isoforms. Competition studies indicate the stem-loop cis element is directly involved in binding CAT-BP. In addition to rat, the 69-kDa catalase RNA-binding protein is present in mouse and human fibroblast cell lines.

Oxidative Stress Induces Activation of a Cytosolic Protein Responsible for Control of Iron Uptake

A cytosolic protein, named iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP), is sensitive to cellular iron concentration. At low cytosolic iron level, IRE-BP is activated and binds to stem-loop untranslated regions (IRE regions) of transferrin and ferritin mRNAs, activating and inhibiting their translations, respectively. This concerted mechanism permits a fine control of iron homeostasis in the cell. The activity of IRE-BP can be measured by its binding to IRE regions, using a protein band-shift electrophoretic assay. Damage to cells by oxidative stress is known to be mediated by iron. We observed that IRE-BP is rapidly activated by exposure of V79 Chinese hamster ovary cells to H2O2. However, if cell extracts are exposed to H2O2 IRE-BP activation is not observed, Therefore, the activation is not a direct consequence of the H2O2 attack to IRE-BP. The in vivo IRE-BP-activation by H2O2 is not prevented by hydroxyl radical scavengers or by the iron chelator 1,10-phenanthroline, indicating that Fenton reaction is not involved in the process, In fact, simultaneous exposure of cells to H2O2 and 1,10-phenanthroline produces an even stronger activation than exposure to H2O2 alone. The interpretation of the mechanism of IRE-BP activation by oxidative stress is hampered by the fact that the mechanism of IRE-BP modulation by cytosolic iron has not been established. It has been recently shown that the iron-sulfur cluster in IRE-BP must be completely disassembled in order for activation to occur and that this is triggered by low iron in the cell. It is likely that IRE-BP senses Fe(II) and that its oxidation to Fe(III) by H2O2 or chelation by 1,10-phenanthroline set up a program for increasing iron uptake. The physiological consequences of this activation still has to be assessed.

The iron-responsive element binding protein: a target for synaptic actions of nitric oxide.

Molecular targets for the actions of nitric oxide (NO) have only been partially clarified. The dynamic properties of the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster of the iron responsive-element binding protein (IRE-BP) suggested that it might serve as a target for NO produced in response to glutamatergic stimulation in neurons. In the present study, we demonstrate that N-methyl-D-aspartate, acting through NO, stimulates the RNA-binding function of the IRE-BP in brain slices while diminishing its aconitase activity. In addition, we demonstrate a selective localization of the IRE-BP in discrete neuronal structures, suggesting a potential role for this protein in the response of neurons to NO.

Molecular characterization of a second iron-responsive element binding protein, iron regulatory protein 2. Structure, function, and post-translational regulation.

Several genes critical to the uptake, sequestration, and utilization of iron are regulated at the post-transcriptional level. The mRNAs encoded by these genes contain highly conserved stem-loop structures called iron-responsive elements (IREs). IREs function as the nucleic acid-binding sites for a cytosolic RNA-binding protein called the IRE-binding protein or IRE-BP. Binding of the IRE-BP to IREs is reversibly regulated by the iron status of the cell. The IRE-BP is highly conserved among human, rat, mouse, and rabbit, and it is identical to the cytosolic form of aconitase. In this study, we demonstrate that a distinct human gene encoding a protein which is 57% identical to the initially described IRE-BP, now referred to as iron regulatory protein 1 or IRP1, is also capable of binding to IREs with the same in vitro affinity and specificity the originally identified protein. This second gene product, which we call IRP2, is expressed in many tissues, but its mRNA abundance and tissue distribution are different from IRP1. In most cell lines tested, levels of IRP2 are inversely regulated by iron levels due to iron-dependent regulation of the half-life of the protein. In addition to changes in total amounts of IRP2, we demonstrate that the IRE binding activity of IRP2 can also vary up to 4-fold in the absence of any change in IRP2 protein levels. The possible reasons for the existence of a second IRP are discussed.

Iron regulates cytoplasmic levels of a novel iron-responsive element-binding protein without aconitase activity.

Iron-responsive element-binding proteins (IRE-BPs) are cytosolic proteins that bind to a conserved RNA stem-loop, termed the iron-responsive element (IRE), that is located in the 5'- or 3'-untranslated regions of mRNAs involved in iron metabolism. Binding of the IRE-BP to 5'-IREs represses translation, whereas binding to 3'-IREs stabilizes the mRNA. The previously identified IRE-BP (BP1) contains a 4Fe-4S cluster and has sequence homology to mitochondrial aconitase. The 4Fe-4S cluster is important for iron-dependent regulation: BP1 containing iron has low affinity for the IRE and contains aconitase activity, whereas BP1 lacking iron has high affinity for the IRE, but lacks aconitase activity. A second IRE-BP (BP2) has been identified in rat tissues and cells and exhibits many of the hallmarks of an IRE-BP, including binding to the IRE and functioning as a translational repressor of IRE-containing RNAs. BP1 and BP2 RNA binding activities are decreased in extracts from cells treated with iron, indicating that BP1 and BP2 are negatively regulated by iron. Although BP1 and BP2 share similar characteristics, they differ in two significant ways. Unlike BP1 levels, which do not change when RNA binding activity decreases in response to iron, BP2 decreases to undetectable levels in extracts from cells treated with iron; and unlike BP1, BP2 does not have aconitase activity. These data indicate that BP1 and BP2 are distinct proteins that have similar specificity for IRE binding and that function similarly in translation, but are regulated by iron via different mechanisms.