The 5′ Untranslated Region of Protein Kinase Cδ Directs Translation by an Internal Ribosome Entry Segment That Is Most Active in Densely Growing Cells and during Apoptosis

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Abstract
Protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) is a member of the PKC family of phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinases and is involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Previous studies have suggested that different PKC isoforms might be translationally regulated. We report here that the 395-nt-long 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of PKCδ is predicted to form very stable secondary structures with free energies (ΔG values) of around −170 kcal/mol. The 5′ UTR of PKCδ can significantly repress luciferase translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate but does not repress luciferase translation in a number of transiently transfected cell lines. By using a bicistronic luciferase reporter, we show that the 5′ UTR of PKCδ contains a functional internal ribosome entry segment (IRES). The activity of the PKCδ IRES is greatest in densely growing cells and during apoptosis, when total protein synthesis and levels of full-length eukaryotic initiation factor 4G are reduced. However, the IRES activity of the 5′ UTR of PKCδ is not enhanced during serum starvation, another condition shown to inhibit cap-dependent translation, suggesting that its potency is dependent on specific cellular conditions. Accumulating data suggest that PKCδ has a function as proliferating cells reach high density and in early and later events of apoptosis. Our studies suggest a mechanism whereby PKCδ synthesis can be maintained under these conditions when cap-dependent translation is inhibited.