Stable RNA G-Quadruplex in the 5′-UTR of Human cIAP1 mRNA Promotes Translation in an IRES-Independent Manner

RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) structures can influence the fate and functions of mRNAs, especially the translation process. The presence of rG4 structures in 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTRs) of mRNAs generally represses translation. However, rG4 structures can also promote internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation as one of its determinants. Here, we report the identification of an evolutionary conserved rG4-forming sequence motif at the extreme 5′-end of the unusually long 5′-UTR (1.7 kb) in the transcript of human cIAP1 gene encoding the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 that promotes cell survival by suppressing apoptosis and is overexpressed in various cancer cells. Expectedly, NMR study, CD spectroscopy, and UV melting assay confirm the formation of a potassium ion-dependent intramolecular and parallel rG4 structure at the sequence stretch. Moreover, the G4-RNA-specific precipitation using biotin-linked biomimetic BioCyTASQ validates the formation of the rG4 structure in the cIAP1 5′-UTR in cells. Interestingly, disruption of the rG4 structure in the cIAP1 5′-UTR results in a dramatic reduction in translation of the downstream luciferase reporter in cells, suggesting a translation-promoting effect of the rG4 structure, contrary to many earlier reports. Furthermore, enhancement of translation by the cIAP1 rG4 structure occurs in an IRES-independent manner.