Hierarchical regulation of mRNA partitioning between the cytoplasm and the endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian cells

The mRNA transcriptome is currently thought to be partitioned between the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compartments by binary selection; mRNAs encoding cytosolic/nucleoplasmic proteins are translated on free ribosomes, and mRNAs encoding topogenic signal-bearing proteins are translated on ER-bound ribosomes, with ER localization being conferred by the signal-recognition particle pathway. In subgenomic and genomic analyses of subcellular mRNA partitioning, we report an overlapping subcellular distribution of cytosolic/nucleoplasmic and topogenic signal-encoding mRNAs, with mRNAs of both cohorts displaying noncanonical subcellular partitioning patterns. Unexpectedly, the topogenic signal-encoding mRNA transcriptome was observed to partition in a hierarchical, cohort-specific manner. mRNAs encoding resident proteins of the endomembrane system were clustered at high ER-enrichment values, whereas mRNAs encoding secretory pathway cargo were broadly represented on free and ER-bound ribosomes. Two distinct modes of mRNA association with the ER were identified. mRNAs encoding endomembrane-resident proteins were bound via direct, ribosome-independent interactions, whereas mRNAs encoding secretory cargo displayed predominantly ribosome-dependent modes of ER association. These data indicate that mRNAs are partitioned between the cytosol and ER compartments via a hierarchical system of intrinsic and encoded topogenic signals and identify mRNA cohort-restricted modes of mRNA association with the ER.