Name: translation efficiency test using polysome profiles under heat stress
Uploaded: 2024-10-11T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 8 min 39 s
Description: Translational control of different genes under heat stress is a critical step for plant adaptation to the environment. Assessing the translational ...

We acknowledge the ultracentrifuge technical research services from Technology Commons in College of Life Science and the Instrumentation Center sponsored by Ministry of Science and Technology, National Taiwan University (Taiwan). We also thank Yu-Ling Liang for the technical support, and the Cheng lab members for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Young Scholar Fellowship Einstein Program from the National Science and Technology Council in Taiwan under grant nos. NSTC 113-2636-B-002-007 to M.-C.C. M.-C.C. acknowledges the financial support from National Taiwan University.

1. Heat stress-treated Arabidopsis seedling sample preparation
<ol>
	<li>Plate 250 seeds for each replicate and each condition with a dropper on the filter paper placed on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media agar plate without sucrose (pH 5.6) supplemented with 1.2% phytoagar. 
	NOTE: To plant seedlings on MS plates, sterile filter paper is placed on the plate to prevent seedling roots from penetrating deep into the medium, facilitating easier sampling. Seeds are then planted on top of the filter paper. To exclude the influence of sugars on plant growth and experimental results, it is recommended to use an MS medium that does not contain sucrose for cultivation.</li>
	<li>Wrap the MS plate containing planted seeds with aluminum foil to block light and incubate it at 4 &#176;C for 2 days to induce vernalization.</li>
	<li>Transfer the vernalized seeds to a growth chamber to be grown under a 16 h: 8 h, light-dark photoperiod at 22 &#176;C with a light intensity of 100 &#181;mol/m2/s.</li>
	<li>For heat stress samples, seal the MS medium plates containing 5-day-old seedlings with waterproof adhesive tape and place them in a 40 &#176;C water bath for 1 h.</li>
	<li>For samples recovering after heat treatment, cool the plates down immediately after heat treatment. Subsequently, place them in a growth chamber at 22 &#176;C for 2 h.</li>
	<li>Harvest 250 seedlings with treated or untreated into 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes for each replicate and freeze the samples in liquid nitrogen immediately. 
	NOTE: For each condition, two groups of samples were prepared. One is for the polysome profiling analyses, and the other one is for the non-polysomal and polysomal RNA extraction.</li>
</ol>
2. Sucrose gradient preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the gradient solution containing the following concentrations of sucrose: 12.5%, 24.4%, 36.3%, 48.1%, and 60%. The solution composition includes 50 mM Tris-HCl, 25 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 100 &#181;g/mL Heparin, and 50 &#181;g/mL cycloheximide (CHX).</li>
	<li>Load the gradient solutions from high to low concentration, starting from the bottom and moving upwards. After adding each concentration of gradient solution, freeze the solution to a solid state before adding the next concentration. For each concentration of sucrose gradient, add 2.2 mL. This process will result in a discontinuous sucrose density gradient.</li>
	<li>Store the prepared sucrose gradient temporarily at -80 &#176;C and thaw overnight at 4 &#176;C before use.</li>
</ol>
3. Polysome profiling sample preparation
<ol>
	<li>Grind 250 5-day-old Col-0 seedlings, whether heat-stressed or untreated, that have been previously frozen into powder using a homogenizer at a frequency of 30 cycles/s for 1 min. 
	NOTE: When the number of plants with the same background is equal, they have the same RNA extraction yield. However, when comparing overexpressing transgenic or mutant plants with different backgrounds, the amount of plants used should be adjusted according to the plant conditions.</li>
	<li>To obtain an extraction solution containing non-polysomal and polysomal RNA, add 500 &#181;L of polysome extraction buffer (200 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 50 mM KCl, 25 mM MgCl2, 50 &#181;g/mL cycloheximide, 100 &#181;g/mL heparin, 2% PTE, 10% DOC, 400 U/mL Ribonuclease inhibitor) to each tube, and mix the samples by inverting and vortexing. Ensure that the samples are maintained at 4 &#176;C throughout the process.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the extraction solution at 4 &#176;C, 12,000 x g for 10 min. Then, filter the supernatant through a 100 &#181;m cell strainer to obtain a clear and particle-free extraction solution. 
	NOTE: The particles present in the extraction solution may sediment during ultracentrifugation, potentially forming a pellet that could affect the accuracy of polysome profiling measurements.</li>
	<li>Load the filtered supernatant onto a pre-prepared sucrose gradient and ensure that it reaches equilibrium. 
	NOTE: Due to the high rotational speed of the ultracentrifuge, it is essential to ensure both safety and proper functioning of the ultracentrifuge. To achieve this, it is necessary to confirm that the sample weights are identical before rotation. Therefore, we utilize a precision balance to verify that the weights of the gradients are completely uniform.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the sucrose gradient loaded with samples at 4 &#176;C, 210,000 x g for 3.5 h using an ultracentrifuge swinging-bucket rotor. Set the acceleration and deceleration rates to the maximum. After ultracentrifugation, non-polysomal and polysomal RNA are distributed according to their density in the corresponding sucrose gradient solution. 
	NOTE: In the sucrose gradient, non-polysomal RNA with lower density distributes in the upper layer, while polysomal RNA, characterized by higher density due to the presence of numerous ribosomes engaged in active translation on mRNA, distributes in the lower layer. Subsequently, polysome profiling can be measured using a density gradient fractionator.</li>
</ol>
4. Polysome profiling analysis
NOTE: A density gradient fractionator with a microvolume syringe pump is used to measure polysome profiling.
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the chase solution (70% sucrose, 10% glycerol, and 0.02% Bromophenol blue) for the microvolume syringe pump.</li>
	<li>Use software to control the density gradient fractionator. Calibrate the machine using deionized water. After calibration, use it to perform polysome profiling.
	<ol>
		<li>To perform baseline adjustment, turn on the UV/VISDetector until the light changes from red to green. Adjust the Recorder Offset knob to align the marker line, then turn the Baseline Adjust knob to the minimum open position. Set the Sensitivity knob on the UV/VISDETECTOR to level 2.0 and press the Auto Baseline button. Finally, use the Recorder Offset knob to adjust the desired baseline to 20. The calibrated process will vary depending on the brand of mechanism and different samples.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>After ultracentrifugation, place the tubes with the samples onto the density gradient fractionator using the tube piercing system so the tube can be connected to the syringe pump with the chasing solution and the UV detector.</li>
	<li>Switch the density gradient fractionator to software control mode (REMOTE) and set the injection flow rate of the microvolume syringe pump to 3 mL/min.</li>
	<li>Initiate the software settings to begin and obtain the polysome profile graph using the fractionator by measuring OD254.</li>
</ol>
5. Isolation of non-polysomal and polysomal RNA
NOTE: For this part of the protocol, a different group of samples from the same batch was used after performing ultracentrifugation following the same steps as described previously.
<ol>
	<li>Based on the polysome profile measurement results, collect the non-polysomal and the polysomal RNA fractions separately. Calculate the volumes of solution for both non-polysomal and polysomal fractions and collect the non-polysomal fraction (upper part). 
	NOTE: According to the profiles, the fraction with more than two ribosomes is defined as a polysomal fraction, whereas the fraction with the 40S, 60S, and 80S rRNA peaks is defined as a non-polysomal fraction.</li>
	<li>Mix the target fractions of RNA thoroughly with pre-cold 2x high salt solution (400 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 100 mM KCl, 50 mM MgCl2).</li>
	<li>Add 8 &#181;L of diluted stock of Eukaryotic Poly-A RNA Control from the kit. 
	NOTE: For the spike-in normalization required for the seventh step. The Eukaryotic Poly-A RNA Control Kit includes B. subtilis genes, such as the DAP gene which are not present in plants, as reference genes. To determine the proportion of reference gene loss during the reaction after extraction, add an equal amount of the reagent containing RNA sample of DAP gene to different tubes with non-polysomal or polysomal RNA before extraction. This allows for the determination of the proportion of reference gene loss during the reaction after extraction and can be used for normalization purposes.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the high-salt solution mixed RNA at 4 &#176;C, 450,000 x g, for 5 h using an ultracentrifuge swinging-bucket rotor.</li>
	<li>After ultracentrifugation, RNA will precipitate at the bottom of the centrifuge tube. Carefully pour off the supernatant from above to preserve the RNA pellet at the bottom.</li>
	<li>Quickly wash the RNA pellet with 500 &#181;L of pre-cold Diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC)-treated water, repeating this step 3x. 
	NOTE: To prevent DEPC-treated water from re-dissolving the RNA during the washing process, it is necessary to pre-cool the DEPC-treated water before use to reduce its solubility. Additionally, the contact time between the DEPC-treated water and the RNA pellet during washing should be minimized.</li>
</ol>
6. Non-polysomal and polysomal RNA extraction
<ol>
	<li>Add 500 &#181;L of RNA extraction reagent and mix with the RNA sample to be extracted. Incubate for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Add 100 &#181;L of chloroform, mix thoroughly, and incubate for 10 min for phase separation.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the reaction mixture at 4 &#176;C, 12,000 x g for 10 min. Transfer the upper clear aqueous layer containing RNA into a new tube, mix it gently with an equal volume of isopropanol, and incubate at -20 &#176;C for 2 h for RNA precipitation.</li>
	<li>After precipitation, centrifuge at 4 &#176;C, 12,000 x g for 10 min. Carefully discard the supernatant and retain the RNA pellet at the bottom.</li>
	<li>Wash the RNA pellet with 1 mL of pre-cold 75% ethanol. Centrifuge at 4 &#176;C, 12,000 x g for 10 min, discard the supernatant, and air dry the RNA pellet.</li>
	<li>Once the RNA pellet is dried, resuspend the RNA pellet in 30 &#181;L of DEPC-treated water and measure the RNA concentration (OD260) using a full spectrum (220 nm-750 nm) spectrophotometer.</li>
</ol>
7. Spike-in normalization
<ol>
	<li>Use 1000 ng of extracted RNA for reverse transcription done using a qPCR kit following the manufacturer&#39;s instructions. Both non-polysomal and polysomal RNA need to be reverse transcribed into cDNA.</li>
	<li>Mix 1 &#181;L of cDNA with DAP gene primers and use SYBR buffer to measure the expression level of the target gene as per the manufacturer&#39;s instruction. Next, use real-time PCR to detect DAP gene expression. 
	NOTE: Sequences of the primers of DAP gene are as follows: 
	Forward primer = 5&#39;-ATA AAA GAA TTC AGC TAA CGC TTC C-3&#39; 
	Reverse primer = 5&#39;-TTG TTT CTT TGC CTC TAT TGT ATC C-3&#39;</li>
	<li>Compare the expression levels of DAP genes in the measured non-polysomal and polysomal RNA groups and estimate the RNA content under conditions of proportional loss. Using the normalized RNA content, calculate the ratio of RNA in polysomes.</li>
</ol>

Analyzing Translational Regulation in Heat-Stressed Arabidopsis

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

This protocol outlines a straightforward and standardized method for measuring the translation efficiency of Arabidopsis seedlings. The critical steps of this protocol are ensuring RNA stability with secondary centrifugation and RNA extraction reagent extraction, as well as meticulous preparation of the sucrose gradient. Moreover, we provide critical steps for normalizing and quantifying the non-polysomal and polysomal RNA with the spike-in normalization method. It is very important that all procedures should be conducte...

Translation is crucial for organisms to synthesize functional proteins from mRNA, supporting essential cellular functions and biological processes like metabolism and signaling and enabling stress responses. Without translation, cells cannot produce vital proteins, impacting their structure, function, and regulation, thereby affecting sustaining life and fostering biological diversity1,2. Therefore, studying the translational efficiency of plants is crucial. Translation involves several essential steps. First, initiation occurs as mRNA binds to a ribosome, facilitated by initiation factors such as eIFs in eukaryotes, which identify the start codon, typically AUG. Next, elongation proceeds as transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules, each carrying specific amino acids, sequentially bind to the ribosome. Peptide bonds form between adjacent amino acids, elongating the polypeptide chain according to the mRNA sequence. Finally, termination is initiated upon encountering a stop codon (UAA, UAG, or UGA), recognized by release factors that prompt the ribosome to release the newly synthesized protein. Throughout translation, various eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs), elongation factors, and ribosomal RNAs work together to ensure accuracy and efficiency3,4.
Previous studies have indicated that post-translational modifications play a critical role in regulating interactions among eIFs and thereby influence translation efficiency. In vitro research has revealed that CASEIN KINASE 2 (CK2) kinase phosphorylates eIF3c, eIF5, and eIF2&#946; to increase their interactions with each other and with eIF15,6. In dark, the E3 ligase CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) represses translation by inhibiting TOR-mediated phosphorylation of S6K-RPS6. The non-phosphorylated RPS6 is unable to form functional ribosomes, thereby halting translation7. Conversely, under light conditions, the SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA 105 (SPA1) kinase phosphorylates eIF2&#945; to facilitate eIF2 complex assembly and promote translation initiation8. These findings highlight the complex control mechanisms that regulate translation in response to environmental signals.
Moderate environmental stimuli can effectively promote translational processes to facilitate growth, such as photomorphogenesis8,9. However, when environmental factors are excessive, immobile plants need to evolve suitable regulatory mechanisms to mitigate damage caused by environmental stress10. In previous studies related to plant stress responses, the majority focused on regulation at the metabolic, hormonal, and transcriptional levels11,12,13,14. However, recent research has begun to highlight the influence of translational regulation on plant stress tolerance15,16,17. Plants can increase their stress tolerance by reducing translational efficiency, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy consumption. Due to the formation of non-membranous stress granules in plant cells, untranslated mRNA and associated proteins aggregate within them to reduce translational efficiency18. One of the common environmental stresses that plants often encounter is heat stress, which has been reported to induce the formation of stress granules within plant cells19,20. The global increase in average temperatures due to global warming severely affects crop yields21. Therefore, studying the physiological regulation of plants under heat stress is crucial. A previous study has shown that heat treatment of wheat resulted in a decrease in polysome-bound mRNA. However, mRNAs stored in stress granules were released and re-bound to ribosomes, facilitating translation after recovery22. Additionally, previous research has compared gene expression between total mRNA and polysome-bound mRNA in submerged plants16. The results indicated that the steady-state levels of mRNA associated with abscisic acid and abiotic stress responses slightly increased following submergence. Furthermore, the amount of polysome-bound mRNAs increased significantly. These results suggest that translation regulation might play a more critical role in controlling stress tolerance in plants. Therefore, an effective polysomal RNA isolation method is crucial for studying the translatome of stress-treated samples.
In this protocol, we modified the RNA isolation method from the high-risk and voluminous phenol/chloroform extraction with LiCl precipitation method to the small-scale phenol/guanidinium thiocyanate extraction method, which requires less volume. The former method involves direct mixing with polysomal fractions, resulting in a larger experimental waste9,15,23. In contrast, this modified approach utilizes differential density principles: polysomal RNA is first mixed with a high-salt, sugar-free solution and then precipitated by ultracentrifugation. Subsequently, RNA extraction is performed using a small volume of phenol/guanidinium thiocyanate reagent. This method effectively reduces the generation of organic waste, making our experiment more environmentally friendly. Additionally, the organic solvents used have lower toxicity. These reasons led us to adjust and improve the experimental procedures accordingly. Additionally, previous methods did not provide a comprehensive protocol for calculating translation efficiencies using spike-in normalization, which is essential for more in-depth translatomic analyses.
Here, we describe polysome profiling and polysomal RNA isolation protocol for investigating translation efficiency and translatomic analyses in Arabidopsis under heat shock stress. This protocol was employed to assess translation efficiency in the Col-0 wild type under normal, heat shock, and after-recovery conditions. Polysome profiling results and the percentage of polysomal RNA revealed alterations in translation efficiency following heat stress treatment in Arabidopsis seedlings.

<table><tbody><tr><td>1.5 mL eppendorf tube</td><td>Labcon</td><td>3012-870-000-9</td><td>RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>13.2 mL centrifuge tube</td><td>Beckman Coulter</td><td>331372</td><td>ultracentrifugation</td></tr><tr><td>Bromophenol blue</td><td>Honeywell</td><td>32712</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Chloroform</td><td>Honeywell</td><td>32211</td><td>RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>Cycloheximide (CHX)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>SI-C7698</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>D5758</td><td>RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>32221</td><td>RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>GeneChip Eukaryotic Poly-A RNA Control Kit</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>900433</td><td>Normalization</td></tr><tr><td>Glycerol</td><td>Honeywell</td><td>15523</td><td>Normalization</td></tr><tr><td>Heparin</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>SI-H3149</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>HiScript III RT SuperMix for qPCR kit</td><td>Vazyme</td><td>R323-01</td><td>Normalization</td></tr><tr><td>KCl</td><td>J.T.Baker</td><td>&amp;nbsp;3040-01</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>MgCl&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>SI-M8266</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>MS basal medium</td><td>Phyto</td><td>M524</td><td>Plant culture</td></tr><tr><td>Peak Chart Syringe Pump</td><td>Brandel</td><td>SYN4007LS</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Polyoxyethylene-10-Tridecyl-Ether (PTE)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>P2393</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>RNasin</td><td>Promega</td><td>N251B</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate (DOC)&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>SI-D6750</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Sucrose</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>S5391</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>SYBR Green Supermix</td><td>Bio-Rad</td><td>BP170-8882</td><td>Normalization</td></tr><tr><td>TRI reagent</td><td>MRC</td><td>TR118</td><td>RNA extraction</td></tr><tr><td>Tris-HCl</td><td>J.T.Baker</td><td>&amp;nbsp;4109-06</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr><tr><td>Ultracentrifuge</td><td>Beckman Coulter</td><td>Optima L-100K</td><td>ultracentrifugation</td></tr><tr><td>UV/VISDETECTOR</td><td>Brandel</td><td>UA-6</td><td>Polysome profile</td></tr></tbody></table>

translation efficiency test using polysome profiles under heat stress

Translational control of different genes under heat stress is a critical step for plant adaptation to the environment. Assessing the translational activities of various genes can help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resilience, contributing to the development of crops with enhanced stress tolerance in the face of global climate change. This paper presents a detailed methodology for assessing translation efficiency through polysome profiling in plants exposed to heat stress. The procedure is divided into three parts: heat stress treatment for Arabidopsis, translation efficiency test using polysome profiles, and calculation of translation efficiency by isolating non-polysomal and polysomal RNA based on the profile. In the first part, Arabidopsis plants are subjected to controlled heat stress conditions to mimic environmental challenges. The treatment involves exposing the plants to high temperatures for specified durations, ensuring consistent and reproducible stress induction. This step is crucial for studying the plant's physiological and molecular responses to heat stress. The second part involves the translation efficiency test using polysome profiling. Polysomes are extracted through sucrose gradient centrifugation, which separates mRNAs based on ribosomal loading. This allows for the examination of ribosome occupancy on mRNAs, providing insights into the translational control mechanisms under stress conditions. In the third part, RNA is isolated from both polysomal and non-polysomal fractions. Spike-in RNA is used to accurately measure the amount of RNA in each fraction. The calculation of translation efficiency is performed by comparing the distribution of mRNAs across these fractions under normal and heat stress conditions. The translation activities of specific genes are further assessed by performing quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) with ribosome-associated RNA and total RNA. This methodology focuses exclusively on the effects of heat stress, providing a detailed protocol for analyzing translational regulation in plants.

The wild type of Arabidopsis, Col-0, was grown on MS medium under a 16 h:8 h light photoperiod. For control, 5-day-old seedlings were used with no heat stress treatment. The heat stress group underwent 1 h of heat treatment at 40 &#176;C in a pre-heated water bath, while the recovery group was placed at 22 &#176;C for 2 h immediately after heat treatment. By employing different heat treatment conditions and recovery conditions, we can utilize subsequent steps to measure their translational efficiency.
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Author Spotlight: Polysome Profiling Protocol for Studying Translational Regulation in Arabidopsis Under Heat Stress

The protocol presented here involves polysomal profiling to isolate translatome, mRNAs associated with ribosomes, into non-polysomal and polysomal RNAs from Arabidopsis through sucrose density gradient centrifugation. This method demonstrates the translation efficiency of heat-stressed Arabidopsis.

Translation Efficiency Test Using Polysome Profiles Under Heat Stress

Translational control of different genes under heat stress is a critical step for plant adaptation to the environment. Assessing the translational ...

translation-efficiency-test-using-polysome-profiles-under-heat-stress

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

1.4K Views.  National Taiwan University. The protocol presented here involves polysomal profiling to isolate translatome, mRNAs associated with ribosomes, into non-polysomal and polysomal RNAs from Arabidopsis through sucrose density gradient centrifugation. This method demonstrates the translation efficiency of heat-stressed Arabidopsis.

Video: Author Spotlight: Polysome Profiling Protocol for Studying Translational Regulation in Arabidopsis Under Heat Stress

Transformation of Plasmid DNA into E. coli Using the Heat Shock Method

Transformation of plasmid DNA into E. coli using the heat shock method is a basic technique of molecular biology. It consists of inserting a foreign plasmid or ligation product into bacteria. This video protocol describes the traditional method of transformation using commercially available chemically competent bacteria from Genlantis. After a short incubation in ice, a mixture of chemically competent bacteria and DNA is placed at 42&deg;C for 45 seconds (heat shock) and then placed back in ice. SOC media is added and the transformed cells are incubated at 37&deg;C for 30 min with agitation. To be assured of isolating colonies irrespective of transformation efficiency, two quantities of transformed bacteria are plated. This traditional protocol can be used successfully to transform most commercially available competent bacteria. The turbocells from Genlantis can also be used in a novel 3-minute transformation protocol, described in the instruction manual.

Transformation of plasmid DNA into E. coli using the heat shock method is a basic technique of molecular biology. It consists of inserting a foreign ...

Polysome Profiling in Leishmania, Human Cells and Mouse Testis

Proper protein expression at the right time and in the right amounts is the basis of normal cell function and survival in a fast-changing environment. For a long time, the gene expression studies were dominated by research on the transcriptional level. However, the steady-state levels of mRNAs do not correlate well with protein production, and the translatability of mRNAs varies greatly depending on the conditions. In some organisms, like the parasite Leishmania, the protein expression is regulated mostly at the translational level. Recent studies demonstrated that protein translation dysregulation is associated with cancer, metabolic, neurodegenerative and other human diseases. Polysome profiling is a powerful method to study protein translation regulation. It allows to measure the translational status of individual mRNAs or examine translation on a genome-wide scale. The basis of this technique is the separation of polysomes, ribosomes, their subunits and free mRNAs during centrifugation of a cytoplasmic lysate through a sucrose gradient. Here, we present a universal polysome profiling protocol used on three different models - parasite Leishmania major, cultured human cells and animal tissues. Leishmania cells freely grow in suspension and cultured human cells grow in adherent monolayer, while mouse testis represents an animal tissue sample. Thus, the technique is adapted to all of these sources. The protocol for the analysis of polysomal fractions includes detection of individual mRNA levels by RT-qPCR, proteins by Western blot and analysis of ribosomal RNAs by electrophoresis. The method can be further extended by examination of mRNAs association with the ribosome on a transcriptome level by deep RNA-seq and analysis of ribosome-associated proteins by mass spectroscopy of the fractions. The method can be easily adjusted to other biological models.

Polysome Profiling in Leishmania, Human Cells and Mouse Testis

The overall goal of polysome profiling technique is analysis of translational activity of individual mRNAs or transcriptome mRNAs during protein synthesis. The method is important for studies of protein synthesis regulation, translation activation and repression in health and multiple human diseases.

Proper protein expression at the right time and in the right amounts is the basis of normal cell function and survival in a fast-changing environment. For ...

Biochemistry

Dynamic Proteomic and miRNA Analysis of Polysomes from Isolated Mouse Heart After Langendorff Perfusion

Studies in dynamic changes in protein translation require specialized methods. Here we examined changes in newly-synthesized proteins in response to ischemia and reperfusion using the isolated perfused mouse heart coupled with polysome profiling. To further understand the dynamic changes in protein translation, we characterized the mRNAs that were loaded with cytosolic ribosomes (polyribosomes or polysomes) and also recovered mitochondrial polysomes and compared mRNA and protein distribution in the high-efficiency fractions (numerous ribosomes attached to mRNA), low-efficiency (fewer ribosomes attached) which also included mitochondrial polysomes, and the non-translating fractions. miRNAs can also associate with mRNAs that are being translated, thereby reducing the efficiency of translation, we examined the distribution of miRNAs across the fractions. The distribution of mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins was examined under basal perfused conditions, at the end of 30 min of global no-flow ischemia, and after 30 min of reperfusion. Here we present the methods used to accomplish this analysis&#8212;in particular, the approach to optimization of protein extraction from the sucrose gradient, as this has not been described before&#8212;and provide some representative results.

Here we present a protocol to perform polysome profiling on the isolated perfused mouse heart. We describe methods for heart perfusion, polysome profiling, and analysis of the polysome fractions with respect to mRNAs, miRNAs, and the polysome proteome.

Studies in dynamic changes in protein translation require specialized methods. Here we examined changes in newly-synthesized proteins in response to ...

Psychophysiological Stress Assessment Using Biofeedback 

In the last half century, research in biofeedback has shown the extent to which the human mind can influence the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, previously thought to be outside of conscious control. By letting people observe signals from their own bodies, biofeedback enables them to develop greater awareness of their physiological and psychological reactions, such as stress, and to learn to modify these reactions. Biofeedback practitioners can facilitate this process by assessing people s reactions to mildly stressful events and formulating a biofeedback-based treatment plan. During stress assessment the practitioner first records a baseline for physiological readings, and then presents the client with several mild stressors, such as a cognitive, physical and emotional stressor. Variety of stressors is presented in order to determine a person's stimulus-response specificity, or differences in each person's reaction to qualitatively different stimuli. This video will demonstrate the process of psychophysiological stress assessment using biofeedback and present general guidelines for treatment planning.

Psychophysiological Stress Assessment Using Biofeedback

In this video we will describe one method of assessing person's psychophysiological reaction to stress using biofeedback. We will also present general guidelines for treatment planning.

In the last half century, research in biofeedback has shown the extent to which the human mind can influence the functioning of the autonomic nervous ...

Polysome Profiling without Gradient Makers or Fractionation Systems

Polysome fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation is a powerful tool that can be used to create ribosome profiles, identify specific mRNAs being translated by ribosomes, and analyze polysome associated factors. While automated gradient makers and gradient fractionation systems are commonly used with this technique, these systems are generally expensive and can be cost-prohibitive for laboratories that have limited resources or cannot justify the expense due to their infrequent or occasional need to perform this method for their research. Here, a protocol is presented to reproducibly generate polysome profiles using standard equipment available in most molecular biology laboratories without specialized fractionation instruments. Moreover, a comparison of polysome profiles generated with and without a gradient fractionation system is provided. Strategies to optimize and produce reproducible polysome profiles are discussed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is utilized as a model organism in this protocol. However, this protocol can be easily modified and adapted to generate ribosome profiles for many different organisms and cell types.

This protocol describes how to generate a polysome profile without using automated gradient makers or gradient fractionation systems.

Polysome fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation is a powerful tool that can be used to create ribosome profiles, identify specific mRNAs ...

Analysis of Translation Initiation During Stress Conditions by Polysome Profiling

Precise control of mRNA translation is fundamental for eukaryotic cell homeostasis, particularly in response to physiological and pathological stress. Alterations of this program can lead to the growth of damaged cells, a hallmark of cancer development, or to premature cell death such as seen in neurodegenerative diseases. Much of what is known concerning the molecular basis for translational control has been obtained from polysome analysis using a density gradient fractionation system. This technique relies on ultracentrifugation of cytoplasmic extracts on a linear sucrose gradient. Once the spin is completed, the system allows fractionation and quantification of centrifuged zones corresponding to different translating ribosomes populations, thus resulting in a polysome profile. Changes in the polysome profile are indicative of changes or defects in translation initiation that occur in response to various types of stress. This technique also allows to assess the role of specific proteins on translation initiation, and to measure translational activity of specific mRNAs. Here we describe our protocol to perform polysome profiles in order to assess translation initiation of eukaryotic cells and tissues under either normal or stress growth conditions.

Here, we describe a method to analyze changes in the initiation of mRNA translation of eukaryotic cells in response to stress conditions. This method is based on the velocity separation on sucrose gradients of translating ribosomes from non-translating ribosomes.

Precise control of mRNA translation is fundamental for eukaryotic cell homeostasis, particularly in response to physiological and pathological stress. ...

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

mRNA translation plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression and represents the most energy consuming process in mammalian cells. Accordingly, dysregulation of mRNA translation is considered to play a major role in a variety of pathological states including cancer. Ribosomes also host chaperones, which facilitate folding of nascent polypeptides, thereby modulating function and stability of newly synthesized polypeptides. In addition, emerging data indicate that ribosomes serve as a platform for a repertoire of signaling molecules, which are implicated in a variety of post-translational modifications of newly synthesized polypeptides as they emerge from the ribosome, and/or components of translational machinery. Herein, a well-established method of ribosome fractionation using sucrose density gradient centrifugation is described. In conjunction with the in-house developed &#8220;anota&#8221; algorithm this method allows direct determination of differential translation of individual mRNAs on a genome-wide scale. Moreover, this versatile protocol can be used for a variety of biochemical studies aiming to dissect the function of ribosome-associated protein complexes, including those that play a central role in folding and degradation of newly synthesized polypeptides.

Ribosomes play a central role in protein synthesis. Polyribosome (polysome) fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation allows direct determination of translation efficiencies of individual mRNAs on a genome-wide scale. In addition, this method can be used for biochemical analysis of ribosome- and polysome-associated factors such as chaperones and signaling molecules.

mRNA translation plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression and represents the most energy consuming process in mammalian cells. ...

Assessment of Selective mRNA Translation in Mammalian Cells by Polysome Profiling

Regulation of protein synthesis represents a key control point in cellular response to stress. In particular, discreet RNA regulatory elements were shown to allow to selective translation of specific mRNAs, which typically encode for proteins required for a particular stress response. Identification of these mRNAs, as well as the characterization of regulatory mechanisms responsible for selective translation has been at the forefront of molecular biology for some time. Polysome profiling is a cornerstone method in these studies. The goal of polysome profiling is to capture mRNA translation by immobilizing actively translating ribosomes on different transcripts and separate the resulting polyribosomes by ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient, thus allowing for a distinction between highly translated transcripts and poorly translated ones. These can then be further characterized by traditional biochemical and molecular biology methods. Importantly, combining polysome profiling with high throughput genomic approaches allows for a large scale analysis of translational regulation.

The ability of cells to adapt to stress is crucial for their survival. Regulation of mRNA translation is one such adaptation strategy, providing for rapid regulation of the proteome. Here, we provide a standardized polysome profiling protocol to identify specific mRNAs that are selectively translated under stress conditions.

Regulation of protein synthesis represents a key control point in cellular response to stress. In particular, discreet RNA regulatory elements were shown ...

An Easy Method for Plant Polysome Profiling

Translation of mRNA to protein is a fundamental and highly regulated biological process. Polysome profiling is considered as a gold standard for the analysis of translational regulation. The method described here is an easy and economical way for fractionating polysomes from various plant tissues. A sucrose gradient is made without the need for a gradient maker by sequentially freezing each layer. Cytosolic extracts are then prepared in a buffer containing cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to immobilize the cytosolic and chloroplastic ribosomes to mRNA and are loaded onto the sucrose gradient. After centrifugation, six fractions are directly collected from the bottom to the top of the gradient, without piercing the ultracentrifugation tube. During collection, the absorbance at 260 nm is read continuously to generate a polysome profile that gives a snapshot of global translational activity. Fractions are then pooled to prepare three different mRNA populations: the polysomes, mRNAs bound to several ribosomes; the monosomes, mRNAs bound to one ribosome; and mRNAs that are not bound to ribosomes. mRNAs are then extracted. This protocol has been validated for different plants and tissues including Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and adult plants, Nicotiana benthamiana, Solanum lycopersicum, and Oryza sativa leaves.

This protocol describes an easy method to extract and fractionate transcripts from plant tissues on the basis of the number of bound ribosomes. It allows a global estimate of translation activity and the determination of the translational status of specific mRNAs.

Translation of mRNA to protein is a fundamental and highly regulated biological process. Polysome profiling is considered as a gold standard for the ...

Rapid In Vivo Fixation and Isolation of Translational Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells

Rapid responses involving fast redistribution of messenger(m)RNA and alterations of mRNA translation are pertinent to ongoing homeostatic adjustments of the cells. These adjustments are critical to eukaryotic cell survivability and &#39;damage control&#39; during fluctuating nutrient and salinity levels, temperature, and various chemical and radiation stresses. Due to the highly dynamic nature of the RNA-level responses, and the instability of many of the RNA:RNA and RNA:protein intermediates, obtaining a meaningful snapshot of the cytoplasmic RNA state is only possible with a limited number of methods. Transcriptome-wide, RNA-seq-based ribosome profiling-type experiments are among the most informative sources of data for the control of translation. However, absence of a uniform RNA and RNA:protein intermediate stabilization can lead to different biases, particularly in the fast-paced cellular response pathways. In this article, we provide a detailed protocol of rapid fixation applicable to eukaryotic cells of different permeability, to aid in RNA and RNA:protein intermediate stabilization. We further provide examples of isolation of the stabilized RNA:protein complexes based on their co-sedimentation with ribosomal and poly(ribo)somal fractions. The separated stabilized material can be subsequently used as part of ribosome profiling-type experiments, such as in Translation Complex Profile sequencing (TCP-seq) approach and its derivatives. Versatility of the TCP-seq-style methods has now been demonstrated by the applications in a variety of organisms and cell types. The stabilized complexes can also be additionally affinity-purified and imaged using electron microscopy, separated into different poly(ribo)somal fractions and subjected to RNA sequencing, owing to the ease of the crosslink reversal. Therefore, methods based on snap-chilling and formaldehyde fixation, followed by the sedimentation-based or other type of RNA:protein complex enrichment, can be of particular interest in investigating finer details of rapid RNA:protein complex dynamics in live cells.

Rapid In Vivo Fixation and Isolation of Translational Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells

We present a technique to rapidly stabilize translational (protein biosynthesis) complexes with formaldehyde crosslinking in live yeast and mammalian cells. The approach enables dissecting transient intermediates and dynamic RNA:protein interactions. The crosslinked complexes can be used in multiple downstream applications such as in deep sequencing-based profiling methods, microscopy, and mass-spectrometry.

Rapid responses involving fast redistribution of messenger(m)RNA and alterations of mRNA translation are pertinent to ongoing homeostatic adjustments of ...

Translation Efficiency Test Using Polysome Profiles Under Heat Stress

Summary

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Chapters in this video

Transformation of Plasmid DNA into E. coli Using the Heat Shock Method

Polysome Profiling in Leishmania, Human Cells and Mouse Testis

Dynamic Proteomic and miRNA Analysis of Polysomes from Isolated Mouse Heart After Langendorff Perfusion

Psychophysiological Stress Assessment Using Biofeedback

Polysome Profiling without Gradient Makers or Fractionation Systems

Analysis of Translation Initiation During Stress Conditions by Polysome Profiling

Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale

Assessment of Selective mRNA Translation in Mammalian Cells by Polysome Profiling

An Easy Method for Plant Polysome Profiling

Rapid In Vivo Fixation and Isolation of Translational Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells