Translin-associated factor X is post-transcriptionally regulated by its partner protein TB-RBP, and both are essential for normal cell proliferation.

To determine the functions of the DNA/RNA-binding protein TB-RBP in somatic cells, we examined cultured primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from TB-RBP-deficient mice. The TB-RBP-deficient MEFs exhibit a reduced growth rate compared with MEFs from littermates. Reintroduction of TB-RBP remedies this defect. A partner protein of TB-RBP, Translin-associated factor X (TRAX), was absent in TB-RBP-deficient MEFs, despite normal TRAX mRNA levels. TRAX is dependent upon the presence of TB-RBP and is removed from null MEFs following ubiquitination. Re-introduction of TB-RBP, but not TB-RBP lacking an oligomerization domain, into null MEFs stabilized TRAX protein without changing TRAX mRNA levels. The coordinated expression of TB-RBP and TRAX is also seen in synchronized cells, where the amount of TRAX protein but not TRAX RNA closely parallels TB-RBP levels throughout the cell cycle. In transgenic mice overexpressing TRAX in testis, total TB-RBP and TRAX levels are constant with reductions of endogenous TRAX compensating for exogenous TRAX. Using RNA interference, reductions of either TB-RBP or TRAX (without affecting TB-RBP) slow cell growth rates. We conclude that TRAX is post-transcriptionally stabilized by TB-RBP and both proteins are needed for normal cell proliferation.