RNA binding proteins control the G(2)-M checkpoint of the germinal center B cell

Salerno, F; BELL, SE; Whale, AJ; Matheson, LS; Vespasiani, D; Foster, WS; Mitchell, TJ; Screen, M; Stammers, M; Hodson, DJ; King, HW; Linterman, MA; Houseley, J; Turner, M

Author(s): Salerno, F; BELL, SE; Whale, AJ; Matheson, LS; Vespasiani, D; Foster, WS; Mitchell, TJ; Screen, M; Stammers, M; Hodson, DJ; King, HW; Linterman, MA; Houseley, J; Turner, M;
Details: Publication Year 2025-10-31,Volume 10,Issue #112,Page eadu3718
Journal Title: Science Immunology
Abstract: The germinal center (GC) reaction drives the production of high-affinity antibodies by iterative cycles of B cell somatic hypermutation, selection, and proliferation. How GC B cells undergo rapid cell division while maintaining genome stability is poorly understood. Here, we show that the RNA binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 act downstream of antigen sensing and protect GC B cells from replication stress by controlling a cell cycle-related posttranscriptional regulon. They safeguard the successful completion of mitosis by balancing CDK1 and p21-mediated regulation of cell-cycle progression. In their absence, GC B cells are prone to arrest in the G(2)-M phase and die by apoptosis, resulting in curtailed GC responses. DNA replication forks stalled at active replication initiation zones, causing replication stress and increased activity of the ATR-CHK1 DNA damage response. Thus, RNA binding proteins guide posttranscriptional gene regulation and maintain a functional G(2)-M checkpoint in GC B cells.
Publisher: AAAS
Keywords: *Germinal Center/immunology/cytology; Animals; *B-Lymphocytes/immunology; Mice; *G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/immunology; *RNA-Binding Proteins/immunology/metabolism/genetics; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout
Research Division(s): Genetics and Gene Regulation
PubMed ID: 41171880
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.adu3718
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2025-11-03 09:22:07

Last Modified: 2025-11-03 09:23:54