The function of the fission yeast LARP1 ortholog Slr1p in the regulation of mRNA translation and decay

Abstract

Gene expression is the process by which information encoded in DNA is used to produce functional products. Protein-coding genes are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is translated into proteins. Translation is highly regulated, with initiation, elongation, and termination influenced by cellular conditions and regulatory proteins. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the LARP1 ortholog Slr1p binds mRNAs and regulates translation, although its molecular functions remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the role of Slr1p in translation regulation and translation-associated mRNA decay under stressed and unstressed conditions. Using dual-luciferase assays, and co-immunoprecipitation, we examined the effects of Slr1p on translation initiation, elongation, programmed ribosomal frameshifting, and its interaction with the 5′–3′exonuclease Exo2p. We hypothesized that Slr1p promotes translation while coordinating mRNA decay through Exo2p, thereby linking protein synthesis with mRNA turnover. Understanding Slr1p function may reveal conserved regulatory mechanisms and provide insight into the roles of LARP1 proteins in disease, including cancer.