TY - JOUR
T1 - Arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein (AIRAP) protects cells from arsenite toxicity
AU - Sok, J.
AU - Calfon, M.
AU - Lu, J.
AU - Lichtlen, P.
AU - Clark, S. G.
AU - Ron, D.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Exposure of cells to arsenicals activates multiple stress pathways resulting in the induction of specific genes whose identity and role in the adaptation to arsenical-induced cellular stress are poorly understood. We report here the identification of a novel gene encoding an arsenite-inducible, cysteine- and histidine-rich RNA-associated protein, AIRAP, that is conserved among mammals, Drosophila and C elegans. Immunochemistry and cell fractionation experiments indicate that, when induced, AIRAP is present in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and cross-linking experiments indicate that it associates with RNA in vivo. The expression of a C elegans homologue of AIRAP, aip-1, is also induced by exposure to arsenite, and expression of an aip- 1::gfp transgene is most pronounced in hypodermal cells. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) of aip-1 lowers the resistance of nematodes to arsenite yet does not appear to affect viability under standard growth conditions. These experiments suggest a role for AIRAP/AIP-1 in protecting cells from the toxic effects of arsenite.
AB - Exposure of cells to arsenicals activates multiple stress pathways resulting in the induction of specific genes whose identity and role in the adaptation to arsenical-induced cellular stress are poorly understood. We report here the identification of a novel gene encoding an arsenite-inducible, cysteine- and histidine-rich RNA-associated protein, AIRAP, that is conserved among mammals, Drosophila and C elegans. Immunochemistry and cell fractionation experiments indicate that, when induced, AIRAP is present in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and cross-linking experiments indicate that it associates with RNA in vivo. The expression of a C elegans homologue of AIRAP, aip-1, is also induced by exposure to arsenite, and expression of an aip- 1::gfp transgene is most pronounced in hypodermal cells. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) of aip-1 lowers the resistance of nematodes to arsenite yet does not appear to affect viability under standard growth conditions. These experiments suggest a role for AIRAP/AIP-1 in protecting cells from the toxic effects of arsenite.
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U2 - 10.1379/1466-1268(2001)006<0006:AIRAPA>2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1379/1466-1268(2001)006<0006:AIRAPA>2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
C2 - 11525245
AN - SCOPUS:0035069707
SN - 1355-8145
VL - 6
SP - 6
EP - 15
JO - Cell Stress and Chaperones
JF - Cell Stress and Chaperones
IS - 1
ER -