The xbp-1 mRNA encodes the XBP-1 transcription factor, a critical part of the unfolded protein response. Here we report that an RNA fragment produced from xbp-1 mRNA cleavage is a biologically active non-coding RNA (ncRNA) essential for axon regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that the xbp-1 ncRNA acts independently of the protein-coding function of the xbp-1 transcript as part of a dual output xbp-1 mRNA stress response axis. Structural analysis indicates that the function of the xbp-1 ncRNA depends on a single RNA stem; this stem forms only in the cleaved xbp-1 ncRNA fragment. Disruption of this stem abolishes the non-coding, but not the coding, function of the endogenous xbp-1 transcript. Thus, cleavage of the xbp-1 mRNA bifurcates it into a coding and a non-coding pathway; modulation of the two pathways may allow neurons to fine-tune their response to injury and other stresses.

xbp -1 mRNA 编码 XBP-1 转录因子，这是未折叠蛋白反应的关键部分。在这里，我们报告从xbp-1 mRNA 切割产生的 RNA 片段是秀丽隐杆线虫轴突再生所必需的具有生物活性的非编码 RNA (ncRNA) 。我们表明xbp-1 ncRNA 独立于xbp-1转录物的蛋白质编码功能作为双输出xbp-1 mRNA 应激反应轴的一部分。结构分析表明xbp-1 ncRNA 的功能依赖于单个 RNA 茎；该茎仅在切割的xbp-1中形成ncRNA 片段。该茎的破坏消除了内源性xbp-1转录物的非编码功能，但不是编码功能。因此，xbp-1 mRNA 的切割将其分为编码和非编码途径；两条通路的调节可以让神经元微调它们对损伤和其他压力的反应。