Abstract
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.