A novel principle for conferring selectivity to poly(A)-binding proteins: interdependence of two ATP synthase beta-subunit mRNA-binding proteins.

Based on electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and UV cross-linking experiments, we present evidence in the present work for the existence of two mammalian cytosolic proteins that selectively interact with the 3'-untranslated region of the mRNA coding for the catalytic beta-subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase (beta-mtATPase). One of the proteins, beta-mtATPase mRNA-binding protein (BARB)1, is a novel poly(A)-binding protein that specifically binds the poly(A) tail of the beta-mtATPase transcript. BARB1 achieves this mRNA selectivity through its interaction with a second protein, BARB2, that binds the beta-mtATPase mRNA through a 22-bp element with a uridylate core, located 75 bp upstream of the poly(A) tail. Conversely, in the absence of BARB1, BARB2 is still able to bind the beta-mtATPase mRNA, but does so with lower affinity. Thus the interaction between BARB1 and BARB2 and beta-mtATPase mRNA involves the formation of a complex between the two BARB proteins. We conclude that BARB1 and BARB2 selectively bind the 3'-untranslated region of beta-mtATPase mRNA in a novel and interdependent manner. The complex between these two proteins may be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.