Posttranscriptional regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) has a pathophysiological role in hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart failure. We started from an observation that the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of AT1R mRNA suppressed AT1R translation. Using affinity purification for the separation of 3'-UTR-binding proteins and mass spectrometry for their identification, we describe glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an AT1R 3'-UTR-binding protein. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift analysis with purified GAPDH further demonstrated a direct interaction with the 3'-UTR while GAPDH immunoprecipitation confirmed this interaction with endogenous AT1R mRNA. GAPDH-binding site was mapped to 1-100 of 3'-UTR. GAPDH-bound target mRNAs were identified by expression array hybridization. Analysis of secondary structures shared among GAPDH targets led to the identification of a RNA motif rich in adenines and uracils. Silencing of GAPDH increased the expression of both endogenous and transfected AT1R. Similarly, a decrease in GAPDH expression by H₂O₂ led to an increased level of AT1R expression. Consistent with GAPDH having a central role in H₂O₂-mediated AT1R regulation, both the deletion of GAPDH-binding site and GAPDH overexpression attenuated the effect of H₂O₂ on AT1R mRNA. Taken together, GAPDH is a translational suppressor of AT1R and mediates the effect of H₂O₂ on AT1R mRNA.