Drosophila Ge-1 promotes P body formation and oskar mRNA localization

mRNA localization coupled with translational control is a widespread and conserved strategy that allows the localized production of proteins within eukaryotic cells. In Drosophila, oskar (osk) mRNA localization and translation at the posterior pole of the oocyte are essential for proper patterning o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2011-05, Vol.6 (5), p.e20612-e20612
Main Authors: Fan, Shih-Jung, Marchand, Virginie, Ephrussi, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Biology
Blotting, Western
Caspases
Cells (Biology)
Developmental biology
Drosophila
Drosophila - genetics
Drosophila - metabolism
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Embryos
Genes
Genomes
Immunoglobulins
Immunoprecipitation
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Insects
Laboratories
Life Sciences
Localization
Machinery and equipment
Mammalian cells
Messenger RNA
Molecular biology
mRNA
Optimization
Proteins
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Translation
Translation (Genetics)
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:mRNA localization coupled with translational control is a widespread and conserved strategy that allows the localized production of proteins within eukaryotic cells. In Drosophila, oskar (osk) mRNA localization and translation at the posterior pole of the oocyte are essential for proper patterning of the embryo. Several P body components are involved in osk mRNA localization and translational repression, suggesting a link between P bodies and osk RNPs. In cultured mammalian cells, Ge-1 protein is required for P body formation. Combining genetic, biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches, we show that, in vivo, Drosophila Ge-1 (dGe-1) is an essential gene encoding a P body component that promotes formation of these structures in the germline. dGe-1 partially colocalizes with osk mRNA and is required for osk RNP integrity. Our analysis reveals that although under normal conditions dGe-1 function is not essential for osk mRNA localization, it becomes critical when other components of the localization machinery, such as staufen, Drosophila decapping protein 1 and barentsz are limiting. Our findings suggest an important role of dGe-1 in optimization of the osk mRNA localization process required for patterning the Drosophila embryo.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0020612