The role of eukaryotic initiation factor 5B (eIF5B) in cell cycle regulation

  • Kamiko Bressler* University of Lethbridge, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Divya Sharma University of Lethbridge, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Dr. Nehal Thakor University of Lethbridge, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry


Gene expression is critically regulated at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Dysregulation and altered mechanisms of translational control have significant consequences in processes including cell growth, cell death, cell proliferation, and maturation. Initiation is the rate- limiting step of translation, which is inhibited under physiological stress conditions. During the integrated stress response, the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) is phosphorylated. This phosphorylation attenuates general translation, by preventing the reformation of the necessary ternary complex. Despite the attenuation of general translation, certain mRNAs containing upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are favorably translated during this condition. uORFs are mRNA elements with a start codon in the 5’ UTR that is out-of-frame with the main coding sequence. Bioinformatic studies have shown 49% of human transcripts to contain uORFs.

Preliminary data suggests that the depletion of eIF5B parallels the effects of phosphorylation of eIF2α. eIF5B depletion has been observed to inhibit global translation, while enhancing the translation of certain uORF-containing mRNAs. The Thakor lab has shown the protein p27 to be upregulated when eIF5B is knocked down in U343 (human glioblastoma multiforme) cells. As p27 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI), which controls cell progression from the G1 to S phase, this suggests a significant role for eIF5B in the cell cycle. However, eIF5B depletion has been observed to not have significant effects on the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor: p21. Further, PI staining and flow cytometric analysis have demonstrated that eIF5B does not have any significant effects on the cell cycle. This data suggests that eIF5B has a significant role in the regulation of p27, but does not contribute to cell cycle regulation.

*Indicates presenter

Poster Abstracts