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The model of RNA stability has undergone a transformative shift with the revelation of a cytoplasmic capping activity that means a subset of transcripts are recapped autonomously of their nuclear counterparts. The present study demonstrates nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of the mRNA-capping enzyme (CE, also known as RNA guanylyltransferase and 5'-phosphatase; RNGTT), traditionally acknowledged for its nuclear localization and functions, elucidating its contribution to cytoplasmic capping activities. A unique nuclear export sequence in CE mediates XPO1-dependent nuclear export of CE. Notably, during sodium arsenite-induced oxidative stress, cytoplasmic CE (cCE) congregates within stress granules (SGs). Through an integrated approach involving molecular docking and subsequent co-immunoprecipitation, we identify eIF3b, a constituent of SGs, as an interactive associate of CE, implying that it has a potential role in guiding cCE to SGs. We measured the cap status of specific mRNA transcripts from U2OS cells that were non-stressed, stressed and recovered from stress, which indicated that cCE-target transcripts lost their caps during stress but remarkably regained cap stability during the recovery phase. This comprehensive study thus uncovers a novel facet of cytoplasmic CE, which facilitates cellular recovery from stress by maintaining cap homeostasis of target mRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein synthesis is important and regulated by various mechanisms in the cell. Translation initiation in eukaryotes starts at the 5′ cap and is the most complex of the three phases of mRNA translation. It requires methylation of the N7 position of the terminal guanosine (m7G). The canonical capping occurs in the nucleus, however, cytoplasmic recapping has been discovered. It functions in switching mRNAs between translating and non‐translating states, but the individual steps are difficult to dissect. We targeted cytoplasmic cap methylation as the ultimate step of cytoplasmic recapping. We present an N7G photocaged 5′ cap that can be activated for cytoplasmic methylation by visible light. We report chemical and chemo‐enzymatic synthesis of this 5′ cap with 7‐(diethylamino)‐4‐methyl‐coumarin (DEACM) at the N7G and validate that it is not bound by translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). We demonstrate incorporation into mRNA, the release of unmethylated cap analog and enzymatic remethylation to functional cap 0 after irradiation at 450 nm. In cells, irradiation triggers translation of mRNAs with the N7G photocaged 5′ cap via cytoplasmic cap methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic capping returns a cap to specific mRNAs, thus protecting uncapped RNAs from decay. Prior to the identification of cytoplasmic capping, uncapped mRNAs were thought to be degraded. Here, we test whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are substrates of the cytoplasmic capping enzyme (cCE). The subcellular localisation of 14 lncRNAs associated with sarcomas were examined in U2OS osteosarcoma cells. We used 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) to assay uncapped forms of these lncRNAs. Inhibiting cytoplasmic capping elevated uncapped forms of selected lncRNAs indicating a plausible role of cCE in targeting them. Analysis of published cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) data shows increased prevalence of certain 5'‐RACE cloned sequences, suggesting that these uncapped lncRNAs are targets of cytoplasmic capping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]