O. Saatci, A. Hernandez-Corchado, A. Aguilar-Mahecha, B. Howley, J. R. Bethard, J.-S. Anoma, J. Lafleur, M. Buchanan, E. G. Hill, L. E. Ball, M. Sajish, P. Howe, M. Basik, H. Najafabadi, O. Sahin
Translation reprogramming is central to cancer cell plasticity under stress. However, the molecular players coordinating translation and epitranscriptomic rewiring to determine adaptive responses to mitotic stress remain elusive. Here, we found that microtubule targeting agent (MTA)-induced CDK1 blocks global translation while it phosphorylates and degrades TACC3, a multifunctional adaptor, releasing eIF4A/eIF4E/eIF4G2 initiation factors. This promotes selective m7G cap-dependent translation of mRNAs with MTAup motif that are functionally required for apoptosis by disrupting proteostasis, promoting MTA-sensitivity. On the other hand, selectively translated TACC3 interacts with eIF3d/eIF4G1 and the m6A writer METTL3, mediating switch to m6A methylation and m7G cap-independent translation of mRNAs with hnRNPC-motif involved in chromosome segregation, driving MTA tolerance. TACC3 inhibition overcomes MTA resistance via restoring translation reprogramming. These findings demonstrate that TACC3 is a pivotal coordinator of translation/epitranscriptomic reprogramming and a therapeutic target in MTA-refractory cancers.