MIF4G Domain Containing Protein (MIF4GD)

This region of SLBP binds to the 3-prime end of histone mRNA. Cakmakci et al. (2008) identified 5 conserved residues in this region of SLBP that are required for histone translation and found that mutations in any of these residues reduced SLIP1 binding. Coexpression of SLIP1 and SLBP in Xenopus oocytes stimulated translation of a reporter mRNA with a stem-loop, as in histone mRNAs, but not of a reporter with a poly(A) tail. Expression of SLIP1 in HeLa cells also stimulated expression of a GFP reporter mRNA ending in a stem-loop. Downregulation of endogenous SLIP1 by siRNA reduced the rate of translation of endogenous histone mRNA as well as cell viability. SLIP1 stimulates histone mRNA translation by bridging between SLBP and the 5-prime end of histone mRNA.