Rat lung contains a developmentally regulated manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA-binding protein.

It has become increasingly clear that RNA-binding proteins play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. The presence in rat lung of a specific, redox-sensitive catalase RNA-binding protein was recently reported (Clerch, L. B., and D. Massaro, 1992. J. Biol. Chem. 267:2853). In order to determine if specific manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) RNA-binding proteins exist, we tested whether protein in rat lung extract would bind to 32P-labeled MnSOD RNA. Using a gel mobility shift assay we show rat lung protein forms specific complexes with a 216 b fragment of the 3' untranslated region of MnSOD RNA and the binding requires the presence of free sulfhydryl groups. Competition studies indicate MnSOD RNA-binding protein is different from catalase RNA-binding protein. Furthermore, unlike catalase RNA-binding protein, rat lung MnSOD RNA-binding protein activity is developmentally regulated; there is less MnSOD RNA-protein binding activity in adult rat lung extract compared to prenatal or neonatal rat lung extracts. We conclude the lung contains developmentally regulated MnSOD mRNA-binding protein that is redox sensitive.