Rat lung contains a developmentally regulated manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA-binding protein

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation Vol. 92; no. 3; pp. 1278 - 1281
• Main Authors: FAZZONE, H, WANGNER, A, CIERCH, L. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ann Arbor, MI American Society for Clinical Investigation 01-09-1993
• Subjects: Animals; Binding Sites; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Lung - embryology; Lung - metabolism; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Oxidation-Reduction; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Superoxide Dismutase - genetics; RNA; Rat; Enzyme; Lung; Rodentia; Superoxide dismutase; Gene expression; Probe; Binding protein; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Physiology; Age
• DOI: 10.1172/jci116700
• EISSN: 1558-8238
• ISSN: 0021-9738

It has become increasingly clear that RNA-binding proteins play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. The presence in rat lung of a specific, redox-sensitive catalase RNA-binding protein was recently reported (Clerch, L. B., and D. Massaro, 1992. J. Biol. Chem. 267:2853). In order to determine if specific manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) RNA-binding proteins exist, we tested whether protein in rat lung extract would bind to 32P-labeled MnSOD RNA. Using a gel mobility shift assay we show rat lung protein forms specific complexes with a 216 b fragment of the 3' untranslated region of MnSOD RNA and the binding requires the presence of free sulfhydryl groups. Competition studies indicate MnSOD RNA-binding protein is different from catalase RNA-binding protein. Furthermore, unlike catalase RNA-binding protein, rat lung MnSOD RNA-binding protein activity is developmentally regulated; there is less MnSOD RNA-protein binding activity in adult rat lung extract compared to prenatal or neonatal rat lung extracts. We conclude the lung contains developmentally regulated MnSOD mRNA-binding protein that is redox sensitive.