Ribosomal defects perturb stem cell differentiation, and this is the cause of ribosomopathies. How ribosome levels control stem cell differentiation is not fully known. Here, we discover that three DExD/H-box proteins govern ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) and Drosophila oogenesis. Loss of these DExD/H-box proteins, which we name Aramis, Athos, and Porthos, aberrantly stabilizes p53, arrests the cell cycle, and stalls germline stem cell (GSC) differentiation. Aramis controls cell-cycle progression by regulating translation of mRNAs that contain a terminal oligo pyrimidine (TOP) motif in their 5' UTRs. We find that TOP motifs confer sensitivity to ribosome levels that are mediated by La-related protein (Larp). One such TOP-containing mRNA codes for novel nucleolar protein 1 (Non1), a conserved p53 destabilizing protein. Upon a sufficient ribosome concentration, Non1 is expressed, and it promotes GSC cell-cycle progression via p53 degradation. Thus, a previously unappreciated TOP motif in Drosophila responds to reduced RiBi to co-regulate the translation of ribosomal proteins and a p53 repressor, coupling RiBi to GSC differentiation.

Summary

Ribosomal defects perturb stem cell differentiation, causing diseases called ribosomopathies. How ribosome levels control stem cell differentiation is not fully known. Here, we discovered three RNA helicases are required for ribosome biogenesis and for Drosophila oogenesis. Loss of these helicases, which we named Aramis, Athos and Porthos, lead to aberrant stabilization of p53, cell cycle arrest and stalled GSC differentiation. Unexpectedly, Aramis is required for efficient translation of a cohort of mRNAs containing a 5’-Terminal-Oligo-Pyrimidine (TOP)-motif, including mRNAs that encode ribosomal proteins and a conserved p53 inhibitor, No vel N ucleolar protein 1 (Non1). The TOP-motif co-regulates the translation of growth-related mRNAs in mammals. As in mammals, the La-related protein co-regulates the translation of TOP-motif containing RNAs during Drosophila oogenesis. Thus, a previously unappreciated TOP-motif in Drosophila responds to reduced ribosome biogenesis to co-regulate the translation of ribosomal proteins and a p53 repressor, thus coupling ribosome biogenesis to GSC differentiation.