Functionally related genes are coregulated by specific RNA–protein interactions that direct transcript-selective translational control. In myeloid cells, interferon (IFN)-γ induces formation of the heterotetrameric, IFN-γ-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) complex comprising glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS), NS1-associated protein 1 (NSAP1), ribosomal protein L13a and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). This complex binds defined 3′ untranslated region elements within a family of inflammatory mRNAs and suppresses their translation. IFN-γ-dependent phosphorylation, and consequent release of EPRS and L13a from the tRNA multisynthetase complex and 60S ribosomal subunit, respectively, regulates GAIT complex assembly. EPRS recognizes and binds target mRNAs, NSAP1 negatively regulates RNA binding, and L13a inhibits translation initiation by binding eukaryotic initiation factor 4G. Repression of a post-transcriptional regulon by the GAIT system might contribute to the resolution of chronic inflammation.

Summary Glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS) is a component of the heterotetrameric GAIT (Gamma-interferon Activated Inhibitor of Translation) complex that binds 3′UTR GAIT elements in multiple interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible mRNAs and suppresses their translation. Here we elucidate the specific EPRS phosphorylation events that regulate GAIT-mediated gene silencing. IFN-γ induces sequential phosphorylation of Ser886 and Ser999 in the non-catalytic linker connecting the synthetase cores. Phosphorylation of both sites is essential for EPRS release from the parent tRNA multisynthetase complex. Ser886 phosphorylation is required for the interaction of NSAP1, which blocks EPRS binding to target mRNAs. The same phosphorylation event induces subsequent binding of ribosomal protein L13a and GAPDH, and restores mRNA binding. Finally, Ser999 phosphorylation directs the formation of a functional GAIT complex that binds initiation factor eIF4G and represses translation. Thus, two-site phosphorylation provides structural and functional pliability to EPRS, and choreographs the repertoire of activities that regulates inflammatory gene expression.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein L13a is essential for translational repression of inflammatory genes by the interferon (IFN)-gamma-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) complex. Here we show IFN-γ activates a kinase cascade in which death-associated protein kinase-1 (DAPK) activates zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK), culminating in L13a phosphorylation on Ser77, L13a release from the ribosome, and translational silencing of GAIT element-bearing target mRNAs. Remarkably, both kinase mRNAs contain functional 3’UTR GAIT elements and thus the same inhibitory pathway activated by the kinases is co-opted to suppress their expression. Inhibition of DAPK and ZIPK facilitates cell restoration to the basal state and allows renewed induction of GAIT target transcripts by repeated stimulation. Thus, the DAPK-ZIPK-L13a axis forms a unique regulatory module that first represses, then re-permits inflammatory gene expression. We propose the module presents an important checkpoint in the macrophage “resolution of inflammation” program, and that pathway defects may contribute to chronic inflammatory disorders.

SUMMARY S-nitrosylation is a ubiquitous protein modification emerging as a principal mechanism of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated signal transduction and cell function. S-nitrosylases can use NO synthase (NOS)-derived NO to modify selected cysteines in target proteins. Despite proteomic identification of more than a thousand S-nitrosylated proteins, very few S-nitrosylases have been identified. Moreover, mechanisms underlying site-selective S-nitrosylation and the potential role of specific sequence motifs remain largely unknown. Here, we describe a stimulus-inducible, heterotrimeric S-nitrosylase complex consisting of inducible NOS (iNOS), S100A8, and S100A9. S100A9 exhibits transnitrosylase activity, shuttling NO from iNOS to the target protein, whereas S100A8 and S100A9 coordinately direct site selection. A family of proteins S-nitrosylated by the iNOS-S100A8/A9 complex were revealed by proteomic analysis, and validated as targets. A conserved I/L-X-C-X2-D/E motif was necessary and sufficient for iNOS- S100A8/A9-mediated S-nitrosylation. These results reveal an elusive parallel between protein S-nitrosylation and phosphorylation, namely, stimulus-dependent post-translational modification of selected targets by primary sequence motif recognition.

The heterotetrameric GAIT complex suppresses translation of selected mRNAs in interferon-gamma-activated monocytic cells. Specificity is dictated by glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS) binding to a 3'UTR element in target mRNAs. EPRS consists of two synthetase cores joined by a linker containing three WHEP domains of unknown function. Here we show the critical role of EPRS WHEP domains in targeting and regulating GAIT complex binding to RNA. The upstream WHEP pair directs high-affinity binding to GAIT element-bearing mRNAs, while the overlapping, downstream pair binds NSAP1, which inhibits mRNA binding. Interaction of EPRS with ribosomal protein L13a and GAPDH induces a conformational switch that rescues mRNA binding and restores translational control. Total reconstitution from purified components indicates that the four GAIT proteins are necessary and sufficient for self-assembly of a functional complex. Our results establish the essentiality of WHEP domains in the noncanonical function of EPRS in regulating inflammatory gene expression.