mpk-1 Expression in the C. elegans Germline

The mpk-1 gene encodes two major transcripts, mpk-1a and mpk-1b, which produce MPK-1A and MPK-1B proteins, respectively [2,24] (Figure 1A). To identify which products were expressed in the germline, we performed RT-PCR of RNA prepared from adults that either contained a normal germline (GL+) or contained no germline (GL−). The mpk-1a mRNA is contained entirely within mpk-1b, but mpk-1b harbors a unique exon (Figure 1A). We therefore examined mpk-1 mRNAs using either mpk-1ab primers, which recognize both isoforms, or mpk-1b−specific primers. The mpk-1ab mRNA was abundant in both GL+ and GL− animals, but mpk-1b mRNA was very low or undetectable in GL− animals (Figure 1B). Therefore, mpk-1b appears to be enriched in the germline. To corroborate this result, we examined the two MPK-1 proteins in Western blots of protein prepared from wild-type (GL+), GL− mutants, and mpk-1(ga117) mutants. MPK-1A was present in both GL+ and GL− animals, but MPK-1B protein was found only in GL+ animals (Figure 1C). We conclude that mpk-1b RNA and its MPK-1B protein are predominantly expressed in the germline.

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Figure 1. mpk-1 Expression in the C. elegans Germline

(A) Schematics of mpk-1a and mpk-1b mRNAs. Box, exon; connecting line, intron; ATG, initiation codon; TAG, termination codon. Below schematics: thick bars, extent of probes used for in situ hybridization; arrows, primer pairs used for RT-PCR.

(B) Semiquantitative RT-PCR of RNA prepared from adult hermaphrodites that either had an essentially normal germline [glp-1(q224) grown at 15 °C], or had virtually no germline [glp-1(q224) grown at 25 °C] (see Materials and Methods). unc-54 was used as a control.

(C) Western blot. MPK-1A protein is ≈45 kDa, MPK-1B is ≈55 kDa, and α-TUB is α-tubulin. Proteins were extracted from adult hermaphrodites that were either wild-type (wt), glp-1(q224) grown at 25 °C (GL−), or mpk-1(ga117) putative null homozygotes [mpk-1(0)].

(D–F) In situ analysis of dissected adult hermaphrodite germlines. (D) Total mpk-1 RNA was assessed using the mpk-1ab antisense probe shown in (A). (E) mpk-1b RNA was assessed using an isoform-specific antisense probe shown in (A). (F) Negative control, using an mpk-1b−specific sense probe.

(G–L) Immunocytochemistry of dissected adult hermaphrodite germlines. All were stained using both MPK-1 antibodies (G, I, K) and DAPI (H, J, L). Distal end, arrowhead; dotted lines, boundaries between regions of germline maturation [MR (mitotic region), TZ (transition zone), PR (pachytene region), OO (oocytes), SP (sperm)]; PEX (pachytene exit defect). (G, H) Same wild-type germline. (I, J) Same mpk-1(0) germline. (K, L) Same mpk-1b(RNAi) germline.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g001

We next investigated the distribution of mpk-1 mRNA and MPK-1 protein in the germline. After in situ mRNA hybridization of extruded germlines, both mpk-1ab and mpk-1b−specific probes were low in the mitotic region, increased in the transition zone, and became abundant in the pachytene and oogenic regions (Figure 1D and 1E). No signal was detected with the control mpk-1 sense probe (Figure 1F). For immunohistochemistry, we used an anti-MAPK/ERK polyclonal antibody that cross-reacts with both MPK-1 isoforms in wild-type animals but is absent from mpk-1(ga117) mutants (Figure 1C). The distribution of MPK-1 protein was similar to that of mpk-1 mRNA: MPK-1 protein was low in the distal germline (e.g., mitotic region, transition zone), was increased in the proximal pachytene region, and became abundant in developing oocytes (Figure 1G and 1H). Essentially no signal was seen in mpk-1(ga117) mutant germlines (Figure 1I and 1J). To investigate the isoform expressed, we depleted mpk-1b mRNA by RNA interference (RNAi); the specific elimination of MPK-1B was verified by Western blots (unpublished data). MPK-1 protein was essentially absent from mpk-1b RNAi germlines, except for a low signal in developing oocytes (Figure 1K and 1L). We conclude that MPK-1B is the predominant MPK-1 isoform in the germline.

FBF Represses mpk-1b Expression in the Distal Germline

To determine if FBF might repress mpk-1 expression, we compared the abundance of MPK-1 protein in germlines that either had wild-type FBF (both fbf-1 and fbf-2) or no FBF (neither fbf-1 nor fbf-2). For this study, we could not examine a simple fbf-1 fbf-2 double mutant, because that animal does not maintain mitotically dividing germ cells [15]. Instead, we examined mpk-1 expression in tumorous (Tum) germlines that have robust germ cell proliferation both with and without FBF. In gld-1 mutants (Tum+FBF), MPK-1B was about 8-fold lower than in gld-1; fbf-1 fbf-2 mutants (Tum−FBF) (Figure 2A, lanes 2 and 3). MPK-1B was also lower in gld-1 gld-2 mutants (Tum+FBF) than in gld-1 gld-2; fbf-1 fbf-2 mutants (Tum−FBF) (Figure 2A). By contrast, MPK-1A levels were equivalent in these strains (Figure 2A). Therefore, FBF affects MPK-1B, but not MPK-1A, abundance.

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Figure 2. FBF Represses mpk-1b Germline Expression

(A) Western blot analysis. MPK-1B abundance increases when FBF is removed. Loading control, α-tubulin. Band intensity was measured using ImageJ software.

(B–E) Dissected adult hermaphrodite germlines with FBF (B, C) and without FBF (D, E); genotypes noted in images. Distal end, arrowhead; dotted lines, boundaries between regions of germline maturation (same conventions as detailed in Figure 1G–1L legend). (B) MPK-1 staining in tumorous germlines that contain FBF. (C) DAPI staining of germline shown in (B). (D) MPK-1 staining in tumorous germlines that have no FBF. (E) DAPI staining of germline shown in (D). Germlines were treated identically, and images were taken with the same settings at the same magnification for comparison.

(F) Quantitation of MPK-1 protein in Tum+FBF (gld-1, n = 7), Tum−FBF (gld-1; fbf-1 fbf-2, n = 5), and mpk-1(0) (n = 3) mutants. The intensity of MPK-1 protein was quantified using ImageJ software. The x-axis represents distance from distal tip of the germline, and the y-axis is pixel intensity. Dotted lines show boundaries of transition zone in Tum+FBF (gld-1) mutants; Tum−FBF (gld-1; fbf-1 fbf-2) mutants do not have a transition zone.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g002

To visualize where within the germline FBF affects MPK-1 expression, we stained dissected germlines with both the MPK-1 polyclonal antibody and DAPI, and we quantitated levels with ImageJ software. Consistent with the Western blot data, MPK-1 was lower in gld-1 germlines than in gld-1; fbf-1 fbf-2 germlines (Figure 2B–2F). This difference was particularly striking within the mitotic region, where MPK-1 was about 5-fold lower in Tum+FBF than in Tum−FBF germlines (Figure 2B–2F). We also stained fbf-1 single mutant germlines, which maintain a mitotic region but are compromised for full FBF activity; in about 20% of dissected germlines, MPK-1 protein was detected in the distal mitotic region (unpublished data). We conclude that FBF maintains a low level of MPK-1 protein in the distal germline.

FBF Binds FBF Binding Elements in mpk-1 3′UTR

FBF binds specifically to FBFbinding elements (FBEs) within the 3′UTR of its direct target mRNAs [12,13,15,16,23,25]; potential FBEs can be recognized by a consensus sequence (UGURHHAUW) [“R,” purine; “H,” not G; “W,” A or U] [26]. The mpk-1 3′UTR possesses two potential FBEs that conform to this sequence (Figure 3A). To assess FBF binding to these predicted mpk-1 FBEs, we used both yeast three-hybrid (Figure 3B and 3D) and gel retardation assays (Figure 3E). Yeast three-hybrid interactions were monitored by production of β-galactosidase from a lacZ reporter (Figure 3D). The mpk-1 FBEa and FBEb interacted with both FBF-1 and FBF-2 in three-hybrid assays (Figure 3C and 3D) and bound to purified recombinant FBF-2 in gel shift assays (Figure 3E). Furthermore, those interactions were specific: wild-type mpk-1 FBEa and FBEb bound FBF, but not PUF-8 (Figure 3D) or PUF-5 (unpublished data), and that binding was disrupted by mutations of the UGU in the consensus binding site (Figure 3C–3E, FBE* mutant changed UGU to aca). The apparent K_d values for mpk-1 FBEa and FBEb were about 93 nM and 320 nM, respectively. We conclude that the mpk-1 3′UTR bears two FBEs and that FBEa appears to have higher affinity for FBF than does FBEb.

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Figure 3. FBF Binds Specifically to FBEs in mpk-1 3′UTR

(A) Two predicted FBF binding elements in mpk-1 3′UTR.

(B) Schematic of yeast three-hybrid assay. Briefly, a hybrid RNA carrying the query sequence can bridge the LexA-MS2 and GAL4AD-FBF hybrid proteins if FBF binds, but it cannot bridge them if FBF fails to bind.

(C) Nucleotide sequences of predicted FBEs, aligned in register with their conserved UGURHHAU motifs (bold in gray boxes). Each wild-type sequence is followed by its mutant (*), in which UGU is replaced by aca (mutated nucleotides are lowercase). Controls included the fem-3 FBE in the fem-3 3′UTR, previously called the PME [12], which served as a positive control for FBF binding, and the hb (hunchback) NRE, which served as a negative control for FBF binding and a positive control for PUF-8 binding [55].

(D) Three-hybrid interactions assayed by β-galactosidase activity. Nomenclature and conventions are the same as in (C). Standard deviation bars were calculated from three independent experiments.

(E) Purified FBF-2 binds mpk-1 FBEa and mpk-1 FBEb in gel mobility assays, but not to mutants (*) with an altered consensus as detailed in (C). Apparent affinities of MPK-1 FBEa and FBEb are 93 nM and 320 nM, respectively.

(F) Coimmunoprecipitation of mpk-1 mRNA with an epitope-tagged FBF. eft-3 served as a negative control, and gld-1 served as a positive control [15].

(G) Sequence alignment of mpk-1 FBEs from C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. remanei.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g003

We next asked whether FBF protein associates with mpk-1 mRNA in the nematode. Specifically, we prepared C. elegans extracts from animals carrying either a rescuing epitope-tagged GFP::FBF or a control GFP::tubulin (TUB), and incubated those extracts with immobilized GFP antibodies to immunoprecipitate (IP) associated mRNAs. We then used RT-PCR to assess either mpk-1 or control mRNAs (eft-3, negative control; gld-1, positive control). mpk-1 mRNA was reproducibly enriched in the IP from GFP::FBF-bearing animals compared to that from the GFP::TUB animals (Figure 3F). Therefore, FBF is likely to bind directly to the mpk-1 mRNA in vivo. Interestingly, the mpk-1 FBEa is conserved in three Caenorhabditis species: C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. remanei (Figure 3G). We conclude that the mpk-1 3′UTR possesses FBEs and that FBF repression of mpk-1 expression is direct.

FBF and LIP-1 Function Redundantly to Control Distribution of Activated MPK-1

The C. elegans homolog of MAPK phosphatase, LIP-1, behaves genetically as an inhibitor of MAPK activity and is likely to inactivate MPK-1 in germ cells (see Introduction) [21,23]. Therefore, MAPK is negatively regulated in the germline by two distinct mechanisms: FBF represses mpk-1 expression (present work) and LIP-1 inhibits MAPK activity. To test the possibility that FBF and LIP-1 might function redundantly to control the distribution of activated MPK-1, we used the α-DP-MAPK monoclonal antibody, which recognizes the active form of MAPK by its dual phosphorylation (DP). In wild-type germlines, activated MPK-1 was not detected in the distal germline (e.g., mitotic region, transition zone) but became abundant in the proximal part of the pachytene region and in maturing oocytes (Figure 4A) [20,21]. A similar distribution was seen in fbf-1 and lip-1 single mutants (Figure 4A–4C). By contrast, activated MPK-1 was broadly distributed in fbf-1; lip-1 double mutant germlines, extending all the way to the distal tip (Figure 4D). We conclude that activated MPK-1 is subject to two redundant modes of downregulation: FBF acts post-transcriptionally to repress mpk-1 mRNA and LIP-1 is likely to act post-translationally to inhibit MPK-1 activity.

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Figure 4. FBF and LIP-1 Function Redundantly to Control Distribution of Activated MPK-1 and to Protect Germ Cells From Apoptosis

(A–D) Dissected adult germlines stained with α-DP-MAPK antibody, which is specific for activated MPK-1. Germlines were treated identically, and images were taken with the same settings at the same magnification. Conventions are same as described in Figure 1.

(E–J) Nomarski (left column) and SYTO 12 staining (right column) of adult hermaphrodite germlines (24 h after L4 at 20 °C or 18 h past L4 at 25 °C). The vital dye SYTO 12 stains apoptotic germ cells (arrowheads in F, H, and J).

(K) Average number of apoptotic germ cells per gonad arm. Standard deviation bars were calculated from three independent experiments.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g004

FBF and LIP-1 Function Redundantly to Protect Germ Cells from Apoptosis

In wild-type C. elegans hermaphrodites, physiological germ cell apoptosis requires MPK-1 activation [19]. Strong loss-of-function mutations in any of the genes of the RAS/MPK-1 pathway interrupt germ cell apoptosis [19], but germ cell apoptosis does not increase in let-60/Ras gain-of-function (gf) mutants [19,27]. Although MPK-1 activity is much higher in let-60(gf) germlines than in wild-type, the distribution of activated MPK-1 is similar in let-60(gf) and wild-type germlines [21]. We hypothesized that germ cell apoptosis might be regulated by the distribution of activated MPK-1 rather than its quantity at the site of apoptosis. To test this idea, we counted the number of germ cell deaths in adult hermaphrodite germlines, using the vital dye SYTO 12 (Molecular Probes) to detect apoptotic corpses. In these experiments, we used fbf-1 mutants to deplete but not eliminate FBF activity: FBF-2 provides sufficient FBF to maintain germline stem cells. Wild-type hermaphrodite germlines had about 2.6 germ cell corpses per gonad arm (Figure 4E, 4F, and 4K), and a similar number was seen in fbf-1 and lip-1 single mutants (Figure 4K). However, in fbf-1; lip-1 double mutants, the number of germ cell corpses increased dramatically (Figure 4G, 4H, and 4K).

To determine if the increased germ cell apoptosis in fbf-1; lip-1 mutants depends on MPK-1 activity, we used mpk-1(ga111), a temperature-sensitive mutation. Specifically, we compared the number of germ cell corpses after shifting fbf-1; lip-1 double mutants and fbf-1; lip-1; mpk-1(ga111ts) triple mutants to restrictive temperature (25 °C). Whereas the fbf-1; lip-1 double mutant displayed excess germ cell death, the fbf-1; lip-1; mpk-1(ga111ts) triple mutant had far fewer corpses (Figure 4I, 4J, and 4K). Therefore, MPK-1 activity is required for the increased apoptosis in fbf-1; lip-1 double mutants. We conclude that FBF and LIP-1 proteins act redundantly to inhibit MPK-1 activity and promote germ cell survival.

PUF Binding to MAPK 3′UTRs Is Conserved in Humans

We next investigated the possibility that PUF RNA-binding proteins might also control MAPK expression in humans. This idea was inspired in part by the knowledge that the human PUF protein, PUM2, is expressed abundantly in both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human germline stem cells [28] and in part by the conserved PUF role in stem cell maintenance (see Introduction). Predicted Pumilio binding elements (known as NREs [nanos response elements]) were sought using UGUANAU as a core consensus [29]. The Erk2 3′UTR possesses a putative NRE immediately adjacent to the cleavage and polyadenylation hexanucleotide sequence (AAUAAA) (Figure 5A and 5B), and the p38α 3′UTR has four putative NREs (Figure 5A). In yeast three-hybrid assays, the Erk2 NRE, p38α NREa, and p38α NREb all interacted specifically with PUM2 (Figure 5C). Moreover, the wild-type NREs in Erk2 and p38α bound purified PUM2 protein in gel shift assays (Figure 5D), but mutant NREs (NRE*) with an altered consensus (Figure 5B) did not (Figure 5D). We next asked whether an Erk2 NRE is conserved in mouse Erk2 3′UTR. Intriguingly, the Erk2 NRE is conserved in human and mouse 3′UTRs, both being located next to the hexanucleotide sequence (Figure 5E). We conclude that PUM2 protein binds to Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs and that PUF binding to MAPK 3′UTRs is highly conserved.

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Figure 5. Conservation of PUF Binding to Regulatory Elements in Human Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs

(A) Putative PUM2 binding elements (NREs) in Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs; filled triangles, elements that bound in vitro; empty triangles, elements that did not bind in vitro.

(B) Nucleotide sequence of predicted NREs. Sequences are aligned in register with their conserved UGUANAU motif (bold in gray boxes). Mutated nucleotides are lowercase.

(C) Three-hybrid interactions assayed by β-galactosidase activity. Standard deviation bars were calculated from three independent experiments.

(D) Purified PUM2 binds Erk2 NRE as well as p38α NREa and NREb in gel mobility assays, but does not bind mutants (*) with an altered consensus as detailed in (B).

(E) Sequence alignment of Erk2 NREs from human and mouse.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g005

PUM2 Binding Elements in Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs Confer Repression in hESCs

To test if PUM2 controls Erk2 and p38α expression, we performed a series of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-based reporter assays in hESCs. Specifically, we fused an EGFP reporter to the Erk2 3′UTR that contained either a wild-type NRE, Erk2 3′UTR(wt), or a mutated NRE, Erk2 3′UTR(mut) (Figure 6A). We transfected these constructs along with a transfection control into hESCs and monitored EGFP expression 24 h later. We first observed EGFP using fluorescence microscopy and then determined expression levels by Western blot analysis (Figure 6B–6J). As a control, we used a reporter carrying a 3′UTR without any predicted NREs (EGFP::BGH [bovine growth hormone] 3′UTR). hESCs carrying the EGFP::BGH 3′UTR reporter expressed EGFP at a very high level (Figure 6J). By contrast, hESCs transfected with the Erk2 3′UTR(wt) reporter had much less EGFP (Figure 6B, 6C, and 6J). To ask if the NRE is critical for this low expression, we assayed Erk2 3′UTR(mut), a reporter with three altered nucleotides in the NRE consensus (UGU to aca) (Figure 6A). This Erk2 3′UTR(mut) reporter produced about 9-fold more EGFP than the Erk2 3′UTR(wt) reporter (Figure 6D, 6E, and 6J). We speculated that endogenous PUM2 might repress expression of the Erk2 3′UTR(wt) reporter but not the Erk2 3′UTR(mut) reporter. Attempts to use siRNA to silence endogenous PUM2 were not successful. We therefore cotransfected hESCs with the EGFP reporters and PUM2::FLAG (Figure 6A), and we found that PUM2::FLAG dramatically repressed Erk2 3′UTR(wt) expression (Figure 6F, 6G, and 6J) but did not repress Erk2 3′UTR(mut) expression (Figure 6H, 6I, and 6J).

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Figure 6. The Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs Control Reporter Expression in hESC

(A) Schematic diagram of DNA constructs used for reporter assays. EGFP reporters all use the same EF1p promoter and contain one of the following 3′UTRs: Erk2 or p38α wild-type (wt) or Erk2 or p38α mutant (mut). The Pum2::FLAG construct contained PUM2 protein coding region plus three copies of FLAG sequences. All transfections included a luciferase-expressing plasmid to control for transfection efficiency (see Materials and Methods).

(B–I, K–N) Photomicrographs of hESCs; experimental plasmids are noted in images. All steps were performed identically to compare EGFP expression levels; images shown were representative of at least three independent experiments.

(J, O) Western blot analysis. PUM2 represses expression of EGFP reporter constructs bearing either Erk2 or p38α 3′UTRs. The intensities were normalized using β-actin to control for cell number and luciferase (LUC) to control for transfection efficiency.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0030233.g006

We next asked if reporters carrying the p38α 3′UTR were also controlled in an NRE-dependent manner. To this end, we transfected hESCs with either of two EGFP-based reporter genes, p38α 3′UTR(wt) or p38α 3′UTR(mut) (Figure 6A). As found for the Erk2 reporter, the wild-type, but not the mutant, p38α 3′UTR was capable of efficiently repressing expression from the EGFP reporter gene in hESCs (Figure 6K–6O). In this case, expression from p38α 3′UTR(wt) was about 6-fold lower than that from p38α 3′UTR(mut) (Figure 6O). Taken together, we conclude that the PUM2 binding elements present in both Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs mediate repression in hESCs.

Conserved PUF Repression of MAPK-Encoding mRNAs

Both PUF RNA-binding proteins and MAPK enzymes are highly conserved from yeast to humans. In this paper, we show that PUF proteins directly bind to 3′UTR regulatory elements in MAPK-encoding mRNAs and thereby control the generation of MAPK protein. Specifically, C. elegans FBF binds and regulates mpk-1 expression in germ cells, and human PUM2 binds and regulates Erk2 and p38α 3′UTRs in hESCs. Similarly in yeast, the Mpt5 PUF protein inhibits Ste7/MAPKK expression to regulate the filamentation-specific MAPK pathway [30]. Therefore, an ancient relationship appears to exist between the PUF RNA-binding proteins and MAPK signaling. To our knowledge, our work provides the only direct link between PUF proteins and MAPK-encoding mRNAs. Because this direct connection exists in both C. elegans and humans, we suggest that it may represent a broadly conserved regulatory relationship among metazoans.

Figure 7A places PUF repression into a conserved pathway of MAPK control. Specifically, PUF proteins are responsible for the post-transcriptional repression of MAPK mRNAs; mechanistically, this could be achieved by controlling either their translation or stability. PUF proteins were originally thought to control mRNA stability in yeast but to control mRNA translation in animals [14], but as more examples of PUF-controlled mRNAs have surfaced, it has become clear that this generalization is too simple. For example, C. elegans FBF controls the stability of lip-1 mRNA [23], and yeast Mpt5 controls the translation of HO mRNA [31]. Regardless of mechanism, our work shows conclusively that PUF proteins are direct regulators of MAPK-encoding mRNAs.

Dual Negative Regulation of MAPK and Its Effect on Apoptosis

MAPK is a key regulator of programmed cell death, among its other roles during animal development [1]. In this work, we investigated the function of PUF repression and MKP inhibition in the control of apoptosis in the C. elegans oogenic germline. In wild-type animals, about half of the germ cells die and the other half begin oocyte maturation (Figure 7B) [19]. Indeed, activated MPK-1 is most abundant where germ cells either die or begin oogenesis [20,21]. In mutants lacking either FBF-1/PUF or LIP-1/MKP, the distribution of activated MPK-1 is essentially normal and the number of germ cells that undergo cell death is also normal. By contrast, in double mutants lacking both FBF-1 and LIP-1, activated MPK-1 extends all the way to the distal end of the germline, where it is normally never seen, and apoptosis increases dramatically. This result suggests two things. First, because distribution of activated MAPK affects number of apoptotic germ cells, the decision to die may be programmed at a location distal to their actual site of death. Second, and perhaps most important for this work, the distribution of activated MAPK and the number of germ cell deaths are controlled redundantly by FBF repression and LIP-1 inhibition.

MAPK inhibition is ensured in the C. elegans germline, at least in part because FBF represses lip-1 mRNA in addition to its control of mpk-1 mRNA (Figure 7B) [23]. Therefore, when FBF/PUF activity is lowered in the distal germline (as germ cells leave the mitotic region and enter the transition zone), LIP-1/MKP abundance increases. The result of this extra step of regulation is that MAPK activity is kept low even when FBF levels decrease. Therefore, MAPK inhibition is ensured not only by redundant inhibitors but also by a well-buffered circuitry.

A key unanswered question is whether mammalian MAPK is also subject to homologous redundant controls. Clearly both exist in mammals: PUM2 represses both Erk2 and p38α mRNAs (present work), and MKPs negatively regulate ERK2, p38α and JNK members of the MAPK family [6]. But do they function in the same cells in a redundant fashion? The answer to this question will require removal of both PUF and MKP proteins in vertebrate cells, which remains a challenge for the future.

PUF Repression of MAPK Signaling in Stem Cells and Cancer Cells

In the C. elegans germline, FBF is required for stem cell maintenance [15], and MPK-1 promotes differentiation (either oocyte maturation or apoptosis) [18,19]. Although a vertebrate role for PUF proteins in stem cell maintenance remains a matter of speculation [14,17], recent evidence has given this idea credence. Thus, PUM2 is enriched in germline stem cells and embryonic stem cells [28], and murine PUM2 mutant testes are smaller than normal and contain some agametic seminiferous tubules [32]. Therefore, the role of PUF proteins in stem cell maintenance may be conserved.

The roles of MAPK and MKP in vertebrates are reminiscent of those of MPK-1 and LIP-1 in the C. elegans germline. Vertebrate ERK2 and p38α MAPKs can antagonize stem cell self-renewal and promote differentiation [9,33–35]. In cancer cells, ERK2 and p38α MAPKs are thought to promote apoptosis [36,37]. Indeed, MKPs are often upregulated in human cancer cells, and the MKP inhibition of MAPK activity has been suggested to be critical for human cancer progression [38,39]. Therefore, MAPKs and MKPs affect both continued self-renewal and tumor progression.

In this work, we show that PUF RNA-binding proteins repress MAPK-encoding mRNAs in both C. elegans and hESCs. Indeed, to our knowledge, ERK2 and p38α mRNAs are the first PUM2 targets reported to date. The biological significance of this finding is not known. One simple idea is that PUF represses MAPK expression as part of a larger regulatory circuit designed to maintain stem cells in a naïve state. However, a more complete understanding will require learning the extent of PUM2 repression, the extent of MKP inhibition, and the biological readout of different levels of MAPK activity—all in the same cells. Although this more in-depth understanding remains a challenge for the future, we emphasize here that the PUF and MKP controls of MAPK signaling are broadly conserved and likely work together broadly to control stem cells and tumor progression.

Nematode strains.

All strains were maintained at 20 °C as described [40], unless noted otherwise. We used the wild-type Bristol strain N2 as well as the following mutants: LGI: gld-1(q485) [41], gld-2(q497) [42,43]; LGII: fbf-1(ok91) [15], fbf-2(q738) [13], gld-3(q730) [44], nos-3(q650) [45]; LGIII: glp-1(q224) [46], mpk-1(ga117) [2], mpk-1(ga111) [24]; and LGIV: lip-1(zh15) [22].

In situ mRNA hybridization.

In situ hybridization was carried out using the protocol described [47], with minor modifications. Dissected adult hermaphrodite gonads were fixed (3% formaldehyde, 0.25% glutaraldehyde, 100 mM K₂HPO₄ [pH 7.2]) for 3 h at room temperature. After washing three times with PBT solution (1× PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20), gonads were treated with proteinase K (50 μg/ml) for 30 min at room temperature and then refixed in the same solution for 15 min at room temperature. DNA probes were synthesized with digoxigenin-11-dUTP by repeated primer extension. Fixed gonads were incubated for 24 h at 48 °C in a solution containing the DNA probe plus 5× SSC, 50% deionized formamide, 100 μg/ml herring sperm DNA, 50 μg/ml heparin, and 0.1% Tween 20. To visualize the probes, gonads were incubated with alkaline phosphatase−conjugated antidigoxigenin antibody (Roche, 1:2,000 dilution in PBT containing 0.1% BSA) at 4 °C for overnight. After washing several times in PBT (+ 0.1% BSA), staining was developed for 1 h in a solution (100 mM Tris Cl [pH 9.5], 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl₂, 0.1% Tween 20, 1 mM Levamosole) containing 4-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (0.23 mg/ml) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-phosphatase (0.18 mg/ml) and then terminated in PBT containing 20 mM EDTA.

Antibody staining.

Dissected gonads were fixed with 3% formaldehyde, 100 mM K₂HPO₄ (pH 7.2) for 1 h, and postfixed with cold (−20 °C) 100% methanol for 5 min. Antibody incubations and washes were performed as described [47]. Polyclonal rabbit α-MAPK/ERK antibody (Sc94; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) was used at 1:400 dilution, and monoclonal mouse α-DP-MAPK antibody (Sigma) was used at 1:200 dilution. DAPI staining followed standard methods.

Western blots.

Blots were prepared by standard procedures. Protein samples were separated on 4%–20% gradient gels (Cambrex), and the blot was probed with polyclonal rabbit α-MAPK/ERK antibody (Sc94; Santa Cruz Biotechnology), α-GFP antibody (Molecular Probes), monoclonal mouse α-tubulin antibody (Sigma), α-actin antibody (MP Biomedicals), and α-FLAG antibody (Sigma).

Yeast three-hybrid and gel shift assays.

Three-hybrid assays were performed as described [48]. For β-galactosidase assays, cells were grown in selective media to an OD₆₀₀ of 1.0 and mixed with an equal volume of β-Glo (Promega) reagent. Luminescence was measured after 1 h. Gel shift assays were performed as described [49].

SYTO 12 staining.

SYTO 12 (Molecular Probes) dye was used to estimate the relative numbers of germ cell corpses [19,50]. Animals were incubated in a 33 μM aqueous solution of SYTO 12 for 2 h at 20 °C and then transferred to seeded plates to purge stained bacteria from the intestine. After 30 min, animals were mounted on agarose pads and observed under a fluorescence microscope equipped with Nomarski optics to score SYTO 12−positive germ cells.

Construction of the pie-1 promoter::GFP::fbf-1 ORF+3′UTR transgene.

ORF and 3′ sequences from the fbf-1 genomic locus (from ATG to 317 bp downstream of the STOP codon) were PCR amplified with flanking attB1 and attB2 sequences and cloned into pDONR201 (Invitrogen) to create pCM3.06, which was sequence verified. A Gateway LR recombination reaction (Invitrogen) was performed between pCM3.06 (entry) and pCM2.03 (destination). pCM2.03 is a bombardment-ready vector containing the unc-119 rescuing fragment (used for transformant selection [51]), the pie-1 enhancer and promoter (to drive expression in the germline [52]), GFP with three synthetic introns (from pPD103.87, A. Fire, personal communication), and the attR1::Gateway Cassette B::attR2. The resulting plasmid pCM4.06 contains unc-119; pie-1 (enhancer + promoter)::GFP::attB1::fbf-1ORF+3′UTR::attB2. pCM4.06 was transformed into unc-119(ed3) worms by microparticle bombardment [51] to create line JH2012 (genotype: unc-119(ed3); axIs1459 [CM4.06]).

RNA immunoprecipitation and RT-PCR.

Age-synchronous adult Ppie-1::GFP-FBF-1 (JK4091) and Ppie-1::GFP-TUB (AZ224) transgenic animals were grown for 24 h after the L4 stage on NGM plates supplemented with concentrated OP50. Worms were harvested by rinsing plates with M9 buffer, and worms were washed with M9 buffer until the supernatant was clear. Worms were then washed twice with buffer A (20 mM Tris [pH 8.0], 150 mM NaCl, 10 mM EDTA [pH 8.0], 1.5 mM DTT, 0.1% NP-40, 0.02 mg/ml heparin), and worm pellets were frozen at −20 °C. Roughly 0.5 ml of worm pellets was used for affinity purification. Worm lysate was generated by grinding worms with a mortar and pestle under liquid nitrogen in lysis buffer (buffer A plus 1× Complete Protease Inhibitor Cocktail [Roche], 20 U/ml DNase I [Ambion], 100 U/ml RNase OUT [Invitrogen], 0.2 mg/ml heparin), followed by 30 passes with a glass dounce. The extract was then centrifuged twice at 10,000 g for 10 min at 4 °C to remove insoluble debris and fat. The protein concentrations of cleared extracts were determined by Bradford assay, and extracts were diluted to 10 mg/ml with lysis buffer. To limit nonspecific interactions with the affinity column, extracts were next precleared by incubation with 15 μl of Immobilized Protein A (Pierce) for 1 h at 4 °C. Then 1.6 μg of mouse α-GFP monoclonal antibody 3E6 (Q•Biogene) prebound to 16 μl of Immobilized Protein A (Pierce) was added to each precleared extract, and the resultant slurries were incubated at 4 °C for 2 h. Beads were then washed once with lysis buffer for 15 min at 4 °C and four times with wash buffer (20 mM Tris [pH 8.0], 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA [pH 8.0], 10% glycerol, 0.01% NP-40, 1 mM DTT, 10 U/ml RNase OUT) for 15 min at 4 °C. For protein analysis, beads were boiled in Laemmli buffer. To purify RNA, beads were treated with TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen) followed by RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) to purify RNA, following manufacturer's instructions. Reverse transcription reactions were performed using 20 ng of Input or IP RNA in 10-μl reactions with an oligo(dT) primer and SuperScript III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen). PCR was carried out on the cDNA template for eft-3, gld-1, and mpk-1 in the linear range (33 cycles) using gene-specific primers such that one primer spanned an exon-exon junction. PCR products were resolved on 1% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide.

Human ES cell culture and transfection.

H9 human ES cells with a stably transfected EBNA protein (H9-EBNA) that enables episomal replication of exogenous plasmid containing an Orip site were maintained in defined medium-TeSR medium [53,54] containing 50 ng/ml G418. For the transfection, H9-EBNA cells were dissociated by Dispase (Invitrogen) and seeded onto Matrigel-coated six-well plates. At 24 h after seeding, H9-EBNA cells were transfected with 1 μg of indicated reporter plasmids together with an equal amount of indicated effector plasmids by using Fugene6 reagents (Roche). At 24 h after transfection, the cells were photographed and lysed by RIPA buffer for the Western blot analysis.