An upstream open reading frame represses translation of chicken PPARγ transcript variant 1

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {gamma} (PPAR{gamma}) is a master regulator of adipogenesis. The PPAR{gamma} gene produces various transcripts with different 5'-untranslated regions (5' UTRs) because of alternative promoter usage and splicing. The 5' UTR plays important roles in posttranscriptional gene regulation. However, to date, the regulatory role and underlying mechanism of 5' UTRs in the posttranscriptional regulation of PPAR{gamma} expression remain largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of 5' UTRs on posttranscriptional regulation using reporter assays. Our results showed that the five PPAR{gamma} 5' UTRs exerted different effects on reporter gene activity. Bioinformatics analysis showed that chicken PPAR{gamma} transcript 1 (PPAR{gamma}1) possessed an upstream open reading frame (uORF) in its 5' UTR. Mutation analysis showed that a mutation in the uORF led to increased Renilla luciferase activity and PPAR{gamma} protein expression, but decreased Renilla luciferase and PPAR{gamma}1 mRNA expression. mRNA stability analysis using real-time RT-PCR showed that the uORF mutation did not interfere with mRNA stability, but promoter activity analysis of the cloned 5' UTR showed that the uORF mutation reduced promoter activity. Furthermore, in vitro transcription/translation assays demonstrated that the uORF mutation markedly increased the translation of PPAR{gamma}1 mRNA. Collectively, our results indicate that the uORF represses the translation of chicken PPAR{gamma}1 mRNA.