Transcriptional profile of ribosome-associated quality control components and their associated phenotypes in mammalian cells

During protein synthesis, organisms detect translation defects that induce ribosome stalling and result in protein aggregation. The Ribosome-associated Quality Control (RQC) complex, comprising TCF25, LTN1, and NEMF, is responsible for identifying incomplete protein products from unproductive translation events, targeting them for degradation. Though RQC disruption causes adverse effects on vertebrate neurons, data regarding mRNA/protein expression and regulation across tissues are lacking. Employing high-throughput methods, we analyzed public datasets to explore RQC gene expression and phenotypes. Our findings revealed a widespread expression of RQC components in human tissues; however, silencing of RQC yielded only mild negative effects on cell growth. Notably, TCF25 exhibited elevated mRNA levels that were not reflected in protein content. We experimentally demonstrated that this disparity arises from post-translational protein degradation by the proteasome. Additionally, we observed that cellular aging marginally influences RQC expression, leading to reduced mRNA levels in specific tissues. Our results suggest the necessity of RQC expression in all mammalian tissues. Nevertheless, when RQC falters, alternative mechanisms seem to compensate, ensuring cell survival under non-stress conditions.