Skip to main content
Log in

Alternative splicing facilitates internal ribosome entry on the ornithine decarboxylase mRNA

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the ratelimiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines, which are required for optimal cell growth and proliferation. ODC is overexpressed in many tumors and, conversely, its overexpression induces transformation. We have previously reported that ODC mRNA alternative splicing relieves the translation repression normally imposed by a long and structured 5′ untranslated region (UTR), and that the ODC 5′ UTR contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Here we show that ODC IRES activity is enhanced following inclusion of alternative sequences generated by splicing at cryptic acceptor sites. Furthermore, the alternative ODC IRES is more sensitive to cell-cycledependent changes in the rate of translation. These findings uncover a new biological property of differentially spliced transcripts. This is the first example of alternative splicing that modulates mRNA translation through the cell cycle in a cap-independent manner.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Pyronnet.

Additional information

Received 14 January 2005; received after revision 10 March 2005; accepted 23 March 2005

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pyronnet, S., Pradayrol, L. & Sonenberg, N. Alternative splicing facilitates internal ribosome entry on the ornithine decarboxylase mRNA. CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 62, 1267–1274 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5020-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5020-8

Key words.

Navigation