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Lee Tzumin Lab / Publications
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11 Publications

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    Singer Lab
    12/14/12 | Nuclear pore component Nup98 is a potential tumor suppressor and regulates posttranscriptional expression of select p53 target genes.
    Singer S, Zhao R, Barsotti AM, Ouwehand A, Fazollahi M, Coutavas E, Breuhahn K, Neumann O, Longerich T, Pusterla T, Powers MA, Giles KM, Leedman PJ, Hess J, Grunwald D, Bussemaker HJ, Singer RH, Schirmacher P, Prives C
    Molecular Cell. 2012 Dec 14;48(5):799-810. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.09.020

    The p53 tumor suppressor utilizes multiple mechanisms to selectively regulate its myriad target genes, which in turn mediate diverse cellular processes. Here, using conventional and single-molecule mRNA analyses, we demonstrate that the nucleoporin Nup98 is required for full expression of p21, a key effector of the p53 pathway, but not several other p53 target genes. Nup98 regulates p21 mRNA levels by a posttranscriptional mechanism in which a complex containing Nup98 and the p21 mRNA 3'UTR protects p21 mRNA from degradation by the exosome. An in silico approach revealed another p53 target (14-3-3σ) to be similarly regulated by Nup98. The expression of Nup98 is reduced in murine and human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and correlates with p21 expression in HCC patients. Our study elucidates a previously unrecognized function of wild-type Nup98 in regulating select p53 target genes that is distinct from the well-characterized oncogenic properties of Nup98 fusion proteins.

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    Singer Lab
    11/01/12 | Imaging translation in single cells using fluorescent microscopy.
    Chao JA, Yoon YJ, Singer RH
    Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 2012 Nov;4(11):. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a012310

    The regulation of translation provides a mechanism to control not only the abundance of proteins, but also the precise time and subcellular location that they are synthesized. Much of what is known concerning the molecular basis for translational control has been gleaned from experiments (e.g., luciferase assays and polysome analysis) that measure average changes in the protein synthesis of a population of cells, however, mechanistic insights can be obscured in ensemble measurements. The development of fluorescent microscopy techniques and reagents has allowed translation to be studied within its cellular context. Here we highlight recent methodologies that can be used to study global changes in protein synthesis or regulation of specific mRNAs in single cells. Imaging of translation has provided direct evidence for local translation of mRNAs at synapses in neurons and will become an important tool for studying translational control.

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    Singer Lab
    09/01/12 | β-Actin mRNA compartmentalization enhances focal adhesion stability and directs cell migration.
    Katz ZB, Wells AL, Park HY, Wu B, Shenoy SM, Singer RH
    Genes & Development. 2012 Sep 1;26(17):1885-90. doi: 10.1101/gad.190413.112

    Directed cell motility is at the basis of biological phenomena such as development, wound healing, and metastasis. It has been shown that substrate attachments mediate motility by coupling the cell's cytoskeleton with force generation. However, it has been unclear how the persistence of cell directionality is facilitated. We show that mRNA localization plays an important role in this process, but the mechanism of action is still unknown. In this study, we show that the zipcode-binding protein 1 transports β-actin mRNA to the focal adhesion compartment, where it dwells for minutes, suggesting a means for associating its localization with motility through the formation of stable connections between adhesions and newly synthesized actin filaments. In order to demonstrate this, we developed an approach for assessing the functional consequences of β-actin mRNA and protein localization by tethering the mRNA to a specific location-in this case, the focal adhesion complex. This approach will have a significant impact on cell biology because it is now possible to forcibly direct any mRNA and its cognate protein to specific locations in the cell. This will reveal the importance of localized protein translation on various cellular processes.

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    Singer Lab
    06/20/12 | Fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy enables quantitative imaging of single mRNAs in living cells.
    Wu B, Chao JA, Singer RH
    Biophysical Journal. 2012 Jun 20;102(12):2936-44. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.05.017

    Imaging mRNA with single-molecule sensitivity in live cells has become an indispensable tool for quantitatively studying RNA biology. The MS2 system has been extensively used due to its unique simplicity and sensitivity. However, the levels of the coat protein needed for consistent labeling of mRNAs limits the sensitivity and quantitation of this technology. Here, we applied fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy to quantitatively characterize and enhance the MS2 system. Surprisingly, we found that a high fluorescence background resulted from inefficient dimerization of fluorescent protein (FP)-labeled MS2 coat protein (MCP). To mitigate this problem, we used a single-chain tandem dimer of MCP (tdMCP) that significantly increased the uniformity and sensitivity of mRNA labeling. Furthermore, we characterized the PP7 coat protein and the binding to its respective RNA stem loop. We conclude that the PP7 system performs better for RNA labeling. Finally, we used these improvements to study endogenous β-actin mRNA, which has 24xMS2 binding sites inserted into the 3' untranslated region. The tdMCP-FP allowed uniform RNA labeling and provided quantitative measurements of endogenous mRNA concentration and diffusion. This work provides a foundation for quantitative spectroscopy and imaging of single mRNAs directly in live cells.

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    Singer Lab
    04/02/12 | Transcription goes digital.
    Lionnet T, Singer RH
    EMBO Reports. 2012 Apr 2;13(4):313-21. doi: 10.1038/embor.2012.31

    Transcription is a complex process that integrates the state of the cell and its environment to generate adequate responses for cell fitness and survival. Recent microscopy experiments have been able to monitor transcription from single genes in individual cells. These observations have revealed two striking features: transcriptional activity can vary markedly from one cell to another, and is subject to large changes over time, sometimes within minutes. How the chromatin structure, transcription machinery assembly and signalling networks generate such patterns is still unclear. In this review, we present the techniques used to investigate transcription from single genes, introduce quantitative modelling tools, and discuss transcription mechanisms and their implications for gene expression regulation.

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    Singer Lab
    02/23/12 | An unbiased analysis method to quantify mRNA localization reveals its correlation with cell motility.
    Park HY, Trcek T, Wells AL, Chao JA, Singer RH
    Cell Reports. 2012 Feb 23;1(2):179-84. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2011.12.009

    Localization of mRNA is a critical mechanism used by a large fraction of transcripts to restrict its translation to specific cellular regions. Although current high-resolution imaging techniques provide ample information, the analysis methods for localization have either been qualitative or employed quantification in nonrandomly selected regions of interest. Here, we describe an analytical method for objective quantification of mRNA localization using a combination of two characteristics of its molecular distribution, polarization and dispersion. The validity of the method is demonstrated using single-molecule FISH images of budding yeast and fibroblasts. Live-cell analysis of endogenous β-actin mRNA in mouse fibroblasts reveals that mRNA polarization has a half-life of ~16 min and is cross-correlated with directed cell migration. This novel approach provides insights into the dynamic regulation of mRNA localization and its physiological roles.

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    Singer Lab
    02/02/12 | Single-mRNA counting using fluorescent in situ hybridization in budding yeast.
    Trcek T, Chao JA, Larson DR, Park HY, Zenklusen D, Shenoy SM, Singer RH
    Nature Protocols. 2012 Feb 2;7(2):408-19. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2011.451

    Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) allows the quantification of single mRNAs in budding yeast using fluorescently labeled single-stranded DNA probes, a wide-field epifluorescence microscope and a spot-detection algorithm. Fixed yeast cells are attached to coverslips and hybridized with a mixture of FISH probes, each conjugated to several fluorescent dyes. Images of cells are acquired in 3D and maximally projected for single-molecule analysis. Diffraction-limited labeled mRNAs are observed as bright fluorescent spots and can be quantified using a spot-detection algorithm. FISH preserves the spatial distribution of cellular RNA distribution within the cell and the stochastic fluctuations in individual cells that can lead to phenotypic differences within a clonal population. This information, however, is lost if the RNA content is measured on a population of cells by using reverse transcriptase PCR, microarrays or high-throughput sequencing. The FISH procedure and image acquisition described here can be completed in 3 d.

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    Singer Lab
    02/01/12 | Multiscale dynamics in nucleocytoplasmic transport.
    Grunwald D, Singer RH
    Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 2012 Feb;24(1):100-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2011.11.011

    The nuclear pore complex (NPC) has long been viewed as a point-like entry and exit channel between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. New data support a different view whereby the complex displays distinct spatial dynamics of variable duration ranging from milliseconds to events spanning the entire cell cycle. Discrete interaction sites outside the central channel become apparent, and transport regulation at these sites seems to be of greater importance than currently thought. Nuclear pore components are highly active outside the NPC or impact the fate of cargo transport away from the nuclear pore. The NPC is a highly dynamic, crowded environment-constantly loaded with cargo while providing selectivity based on unfolded proteins. Taken together, this comprises a new paradigm in how we view import/export dynamics and emphasizes the multiscale nature of NPC-mediated cellular transport.

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    Singer Lab
    01/15/12 | IGF2BP1 promotes cell migration by regulating MK5 and PTEN signaling.
    Stöhr N, Köhn M, Lederer M, Glass M, Reinke C, Singer RH, Hüttelmaier S
    Genes & Development. 2012 Jan 15;26(2):176-89. doi: 10.1101/gad.177642.111

    In primary neurons, the oncofetal RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 (IGF2 mRNA-binding protein 1) controls spatially restricted β-actin (ACTB) mRNA translation and modulates growth cone guidance. In cultured tumor-derived cells, IGF2BP1 was shown to regulate the formation of lamellipodia and invadopodia. However, how and via which target mRNAs IGF2BP1 controls the motility of tumor-derived cells has remained elusive. In this study, we reveal that IGF2BP1 promotes the velocity and directionality of tumor-derived cell migration by determining the cytoplasmic fate of two novel target mRNAs: MAPK4 and PTEN. Inhibition of MAPK4 mRNA translation by IGF2BP1 antagonizes MK5 activation and prevents phosphorylation of HSP27, which sequesters actin monomers available for F-actin polymerization. Consequently, HSP27-ACTB association is reduced, mobilizing cellular G-actin for polymerization in order to promote the velocity of cell migration. At the same time, stabilization of the PTEN mRNA by IGF2BP1 enhances PTEN expression and antagonizes PIP(3)-directed signaling. This enforces the directionality of cell migration in a RAC1-dependent manner by preventing additional lamellipodia from forming and sustaining cell polarization intrinsically. IGF2BP1 thus promotes the velocity and persistence of tumor cell migration by controlling the expression of signaling proteins. This fine-tunes and connects intracellular signaling networks in order to enhance actin dynamics and cell polarization.

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    Singer Lab
    01/12/12 | Transgenic expression of ZBP1 in neurons suppresses cocaine-associated conditioning.
    Lapidus KA, Nwokafor C, Scott D, Baroni TE, Tenenbaum SA, Hiroi N, Singer RH, Czaplinski K
    Learning & Memory. 2012 Feb;19(2):35-42. doi: 10.1101/lm.024471.111

    To directly address whether regulating mRNA localization can influence animal behavior, we created transgenic mice that conditionally express Zipcode Binding Protein 1 (ZBP1) in a subset of neurons in the brain. ZBP1 is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the localization, as well as translation and stability of target mRNAs in the cytoplasm. We took advantage of the absence of ZBP1 expression in the mature brain to examine the effect of expressing ZBP1 on animal behavior. We constructed a transgene conditionally expressing a GFP-ZBP1 fusion protein in a subset of forebrain neurons and compared cocaine-cued place conditioning in these mice versus noninduced littermates. Transgenic ZBP1 expression resulted in impaired place conditioning relative to nonexpressing littermates, and acutely repressing expression of the transgene restored normal cocaine conditioning. To gain insight into the molecular changes that accounted for this change in behavior, we identified mRNAs that specifically immunoprecipitated with transgenic ZBP1 protein from the brains of these mice. These data suggest that RNA-binding proteins can be used as a tool to identify the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in the establishment and function of neural circuits involved in addiction behaviors.

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