Nanoparticle-based local translation reveals mRNA as translation-coupled scaffold with anchoring function

Abstract

Spatial regulations of mRNA translation are central to cellular functions and relies on numerous complex processes. Biomimetic approaches could bypass the endogenous complex processes, improve our comprehension, and allow for controlling local translation regulations and functions. However, the causality between localizing translation and nascent protein function remains elusive. Here, we develop a novel nanoparticle-based strategy to magnetically control mRNA spatial patterns in mammalian cell extracts and investigate how local translation impacts nascent protein localization and function. By monitoring translation on magnetically localized mRNAs, we show that mRNA-nanoparticle operates as a source for the continuous production of proteins from defined positions. By applying magnetic localization of mRNAs coding for Actin Binding Proteins, we trigger the local formation of actin cytoskeleton and identify minimal requirements for spatial control of actin filament network. In addition, our bottom-up approach identifies a novel role of mRNA as translation-coupled scaffold for nascent N-terminal protein domain functions. Our approach will serve as a novel platform for regulating mRNA localization and investigating a functional role of nascent protein domains during translation.