Pumilio protects Xbp1 mRNA from regulated Ire1-dependent decay

SUMMARY The unfolded protein response (UPR) maintains homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum(ER). Residing in the ER membrane, the UPR mediator Ire1 deploys its cytoplasmic kinase-endoribonuclease domain to activate the key UPR transcription factor Xbp1 through non-conventional splicing of Xbp1 mRNA. Ire1 also degrades diverse ER-targeted mRNAs through regulated Ire1-dependent decay (RIDD), but how it spares Xbp1 mRNA from this decay is unknown. We identified binding sites for the RNA-binding protein Pumilio in the 3’UTR Drosophila Xbp1. In the developing Drosophila eye , Pumilio bound both the Xbp1 unspliced and Xbp1 spliced mRNAs, but only Xbp1 spliced was stabilized by Pumilio. Furthermore, Pumilio displayed Ire1 kinase-dependent phosphorylation during ER stress, which was required for its stabilization of Xbp1 spliced . Human IRE1 could directly phosphorylate Pumilio, and phosphorylated Pumilio protected Xbp1 spliced mRNA against RIDD. Thus, Ire1-mediated phosphorylation enables Pumilio to shield Xbp1 spliced from RIDD. These results uncover an important and unexpected regulatory link between an RNA-binding protein and the UPR.