Haematopoietic stem cells require a highly regulated protein synthesis rate

Nature. 2014 May 1;509(7498):49-54. doi: 10.1038/nature13035. Epub 2014 Mar 9.

Abstract

Many aspects of cellular physiology remain unstudied in somatic stem cells, for example, there are almost no data on protein synthesis in any somatic stem cell. Here we set out to compare protein synthesis in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and restricted haematopoietic progenitors. We found that the amount of protein synthesized per hour in HSCs in vivo was lower than in most other haematopoietic cells, even if we controlled for differences in cell cycle status or forced HSCs to undergo self-renewing divisions. Reduced ribosome function in Rpl24(Bst/+) mice further reduced protein synthesis in HSCs and impaired HSC function. Pten deletion increased protein synthesis in HSCs but also reduced HSC function. Rpl24(Bst/+) cell-autonomously rescued the effects of Pten deletion in HSCs; blocking the increase in protein synthesis, restoring HSC function, and delaying leukaemogenesis. Pten deficiency thus depletes HSCs and promotes leukaemia partly by increasing protein synthesis. Either increased or decreased protein synthesis impairs HSC function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Kinetics
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mutation / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / deficiency
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / drug effects
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis* / drug effects
  • Protein Biosynthesis* / genetics
  • Puromycin / analogs & derivatives
  • Puromycin / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / genetics
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • ribosomal protein L24
  • Puromycin
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex