scholarly journals RNA-binding protein Maca is crucial for gigantic male fertility factor gene expression, spermatogenesis, and male fertility, in Drosophila

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. e1009655
Author(s):  
Li Zhu ◽  
Ryuya Fukunaga
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Large Male ◽  
Rna Recognition Motifs ◽  
Fertility Factor ◽  
Recognition Motifs ◽  
Successful Expression

During spermatogenesis, the process in which sperm for fertilization are produced from germline cells, gene expression is spatiotemporally highly regulated. In Drosophila, successful expression of extremely large male fertility factor genes on Y-chromosome spanning some megabases due to their gigantic intron sizes is crucial for spermatogenesis. Expression of such extremely large genes must be challenging, but the molecular mechanism that allows it remains unknown. Here we report that a novel RNA-binding protein Maca, which contains two RNA-recognition motifs, is crucial for this process. maca null mutant male flies exhibited a failure in the spermatid individualization process during spermatogenesis, lacked mature sperm, and were completely sterile, while maca mutant female flies were fully fertile. Proteomics and transcriptome analyses revealed that both protein and mRNA abundance of the gigantic male fertility factor genes kl-2, kl-3, and kl-5 (kl genes) are significantly decreased, where the decreases of kl-2 are particularly dramatic, in maca mutant testes. Splicing of the kl-3 transcripts was also dysregulated in maca mutant testes. All these physiological and molecular phenotypes were rescued by a maca transgene in the maca mutant background. Furthermore, we found that in the control genetic background, Maca is exclusively expressed in spermatocytes in testes and enriched at Y-loop A/C in the nucleus, where the kl-5 primary transcripts are localized. Our data suggest that Maca increases transcription processivity, promotes successful splicing of gigantic introns, and/or protects transcripts from premature degradation, of the kl genes. Our study identified a novel RNA-binding protein Maca that is crucial for successful expression of the gigantic male fertility factor genes, spermatogenesis, and male fertility.

Structural properties and RNA-binding activities of two RNA recognition motifs of a mouse neural RNA-binding protein, mouse-Musashi-1

Gene ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyuki Kurihara ◽  
Takashi Nagata ◽  
Takao Imai ◽  
Ado Hiwatashi ◽  
Masataka Horiuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Properties ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Recognition ◽  
Rna Recognition Motifs ◽  
Recognition Motifs

scholarly journals Neural RNA-binding protein Musashi1 inhibits translation initiation by competing with eIF4G for PABP

2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hironori Kawahara ◽  
Takao Imai ◽  
Hiroaki Imataka ◽  
Masafumi Tsujimoto ◽  
Ken Matsumoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Neural Stem Cells ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Stress Granules ◽  
Translational Repression ◽  
Rna Recognition Motifs ◽  
Recognition Motifs

Musashi1 (Msi1) is an RNA-binding protein that is highly expressed in neural stem cells. We previously reported that Msi1 contributes to the maintenance of the immature state and self-renewal activity of neural stem cells through translational repression of m-Numb. However, its translation repression mechanism has remained unclear. Here, we identify poly(A) binding protein (PABP) as an Msi1-binding protein, and find Msi1 competes with eIF4G for PABP binding. This competition inhibits translation initiation of Msi1's target mRNA. Indeed, deletion of the PABP-interacting domain in Msi1 abolishes its function. We demonstrate that Msi1 inhibits the assembly of the 80S, but not the 48S, ribosome complex. Consistent with these conclusions, Msi1 colocalizes with PABP and is recruited into stress granules, which contain the stalled preinitiation complex. However, Msi1 with mutations in two RNA recognition motifs fails to accumulate into stress granules. These results provide insight into the mechanism by which sequence-specific translational repression occurs in stem cells through the control of translation initiation.

scholarly journals The Interplay of RNA Binding Proteins, Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in ALS

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 552
Author(s):  
Jasmine Harley ◽  
Benjamin E. Clarke ◽  
Rickie Patani
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

RNA binding proteins fulfil a wide number of roles in gene expression. Multiple mechanisms of RNA binding protein dysregulation have been implicated in the pathomechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction also play important roles in these diseases. In this review, we highlight the mechanistic interplay between RNA binding protein dysregulation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. We also discuss different potential therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.

scholarly journals RNA–Binding Protein HuD as a Versatile Factor in Neuronal and Non–Neuronal Systems

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
Myeongwoo Jung ◽  
Eun-Kyung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
Target Mrnas ◽  
Neuronal Systems

HuD (also known as ELAVL4) is an RNA–binding protein belonging to the human antigen (Hu) family that regulates stability, translation, splicing, and adenylation of target mRNAs. Unlike ubiquitously distributed HuR, HuD is only expressed in certain types of tissues, mainly in neuronal systems. Numerous studies have shown that HuD plays essential roles in neuronal development, differentiation, neurogenesis, dendritic maturation, neural plasticity, and synaptic transmission by regulating the metabolism of target mRNAs. However, growing evidence suggests that HuD also functions as a pivotal regulator of gene expression in non–neuronal systems and its malfunction is implicated in disease pathogenesis. Comprehensive knowledge of HuD expression, abundance, molecular targets, and regulatory mechanisms will broaden our understanding of its role as a versatile regulator of gene expression, thus enabling novel treatments for diseases with aberrant HuD expression. This review focuses on recent advances investigating the emerging role of HuD, its molecular mechanisms of target gene regulation, and its disease relevance in both neuronal and non–neuronal systems.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document