scholarly journals Competition between kinesin-1 and myosin-V defines Drosophila posterior determination

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Lu ◽  
Margot Lakonishok ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Neil Billington ◽  
Ashley Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Cortical Microtubule ◽  
Posterior Pole ◽  
Myosin V ◽  
Lateral Cortex ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Actin Motor ◽  
Local Accumulation

Local accumulation of oskar (osk) mRNA in the Drosophila oocyte determines the posterior pole of the future embryo. Two major cytoskeletal components, microtubules and actin filaments, together with a microtubule motor, kinesin-1, and an actin motor, myosin-V, are essential for osk mRNA posterior localization. In this study, we use Staufen, an RNA-binding protein that colocalizes with osk mRNA, as a proxy for osk mRNA. We demonstrate that posterior localization of osk/Staufen is determined by competition between kinesin-1 and myosin-V. While kinesin-1 removes osk/Staufen from the cortex along microtubules, myosin-V anchors osk/Staufen at the cortex. Myosin-V wins over kinesin-1 at the posterior pole due to low microtubule density at this site, while kinesin-1 wins at anterior and lateral positions because they have high density of cortically-anchored microtubules. As a result, posterior determinants are removed from the anterior and lateral cortex but retained at the posterior pole. Thus, posterior determination of Drosophila oocytes is defined by kinesin-myosin competition, whose outcome is primarily determined by cortical microtubule density.

scholarly journals Competition between kinesin-1 and myosin-V define Drosophila posterior determination

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Lu ◽  
Margot Lakonishok ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Neil Billington ◽  
Ashley Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Cortical Microtubule ◽  
Posterior Pole ◽  
Myosin V ◽  
Lateral Cortex ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Actin Motor ◽  
Local Accumulation

AbstractLocal accumulation of oskar (osk) mRNA in the Drosophila oocyte determines the posterior pole of the future embryo. Two major cytoskeletal components, microtubules and actin filaments, together with a microtubule motor, kinesin-1, and an actin motor, myosin-V, are essential for osk mRNA posterior localization. In this study, we use Staufen, an RNA-binding protein that colocalizes with osk mRNA, as a proxy for posterior determination. We demonstrate that posterior localization of osk/Staufen is determined by competition between kinesin-1 and myosin-V. While kinesin-1 removes osk/Staufen from the cortex along microtubules, myosin-V anchors osk/Staufen at the cortex. Myosin-V wins over kinesin-1 at the posterior pole due to low microtubule density at this site, while kinesin-1 wins it at anterior and lateral positions because they have high density of cortically-anchored microtubules. As a result, posterior determinants are removed from the anterior and lateral cortex but retained at the posterior pole. Thus, posterior determination of Drosophila oocyte is defined by kinesin-myosin competition, whose outcome is primarily determined by cortical microtubule density.

scholarly journals Ooplasmic flow cooperates with transport and anchorage in Drosophila oocyte posterior determination

2018 ◽  
Vol 217 (10) ◽  
pp. 3497-3511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Lu ◽  
Margot Lakonishok ◽  
Anna S. Serpinskaya ◽  
David Kirchenbüechler ◽  
Shuo-Chien Ling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Streaming ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Rna Binding Protein ◽  
Myosin V ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Actin Motor

The posterior determination of the Drosophila melanogaster embryo is defined by the posterior localization of oskar (osk) mRNA in the oocyte. Defects of its localization result in a lack of germ cells and failure of abdomen specification. A microtubule motor kinesin-1 is essential for osk mRNA posterior localization. Because kinesin-1 is required for two essential functions in the oocyte—transport along microtubules and cytoplasmic streaming—it is unclear how individual kinesin-1 activities contribute to the posterior determination. We examined Staufen, an RNA-binding protein that is colocalized with osk mRNA, as a proxy of posterior determination, and we used mutants that either inhibit kinesin-driven transport along microtubules or cytoplasmic streaming. We demonstrated that late-stage streaming is partially redundant with early-stage transport along microtubules for Staufen posterior localization. Additionally, an actin motor, myosin V, is required for the Staufen anchoring to the actin cortex. We propose a model whereby initial kinesin-driven transport, subsequent kinesin-driven streaming, and myosin V–based cortical retention cooperate in posterior determination.

RNA secondary structure dependence in METTL3–METTL14 mRNA methylation is modulated by the N-terminal domain of METTL3

2020 ◽  
Vol 402 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
Nathalie Meiser ◽  
Nicole Mench ◽  
Martin Hengesbach
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Structure ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Structure Dependence ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Methylation Assay ◽  
A Site ◽  
Methylation Activity

AbstractN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification in mRNA. The core of the human N6-methyltransferase complex (MTC) is formed by a heterodimer consisting of METTL3 and METTL14, which specifically catalyzes m6A formation within an RRACH sequence context. Using recombinant proteins in a site-specific methylation assay that allows determination of quantitative methylation yields, our results show that this complex methylates its target RNAs not only sequence but also secondary structure dependent. Furthermore, we demonstrate the role of specific protein domains on both RNA binding and substrate turnover, focusing on postulated RNA binding elements. Our results show that one zinc finger motif within the complex is sufficient to bind RNA, however, both zinc fingers are required for methylation activity. We show that the N-terminal domain of METTL3 alters the secondary structure dependence of methylation yields. Our results demonstrate that a cooperative effect of all RNA-binding elements in the METTL3–METTL14 complex is required for efficient catalysis, and that binding of further proteins affecting the NTD of METTL3 may regulate substrate specificity.

scholarly journals Determination of the alpha-actinin-binding site on actin filaments by cryoelectron microscopy and image analysis.

1994 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
A McGough ◽  
M Way ◽  
D DeRosier
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Outer Face ◽  
Actin Binding Domain

The three-dimensional structure of actin filaments decorated with the actin-binding domain of chick smooth muscle alpha-actinin (alpha A1-2) has been determined to 21-A resolution. The shape and location of alpha A1-2 was determined by subtracting maps of F-actin from the reconstruction of decorated filaments. alpha A1-2 resembles a bell that measures approximately 38 A at its base and extends 42 A from its base to its tip. In decorated filaments, the base of alpha A1-2 is centered about the outer face of subdomain 2 of actin and contacts subdomain 1 of two neighboring monomers along the long-pitch (two-start) helical strands. Using the atomic model of F-actin (Lorenz, M., D. Popp, and K. C. Holmes. 1993. J. Mol. Biol. 234:826-836.), we have been able to test directly the likelihood that specific actin residues, which have been previously identified by others, interact with alpha A1-2. Our results indicate that residues 86-117 and 350-375 comprise distinct binding sites for alpha-actinin on adjacent actin monomers.

Array and distribution of actin filaments in guard cells contribute to the determination of stomatal aperture

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1655-1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin-Qi Gao ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Peng-Cheng Wei ◽  
Fei Ren ◽  
Jia Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Guard Cells ◽  
Stomatal Aperture

Apontic binds the translational repressor Bruno and is implicated in regulation of oskar mRNA translation

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1129-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.S. Lie ◽  
P.M. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Translational Control ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Posterior Pole ◽  
Translational Repression ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Functional Interaction ◽  
Translational Repressor ◽  
Two Hybrid

The product of the oskar gene directs posterior patterning in the Drosophila oocyte, where it must be deployed specifically at the posterior pole. Proper expression relies on the coordinated localization and translational control of the oskar mRNA. Translational repression prior to localization of the transcript is mediated, in part, by the Bruno protein, which binds to discrete sites in the 3′ untranslated region of the oskar mRNA. To begin to understand how Bruno acts in translational repression, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify Bruno-interacting proteins. One interactor, described here, is the product of the apontic gene. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments lend biochemical support to the idea that Bruno and Apontic proteins physically interact in Drosophila. Genetic experiments using mutants defective in apontic and bruno reveal a functional interaction between these genes. Given this interaction, Apontic is likely to act together with Bruno in translational repression of oskar mRNA. Interestingly, Apontic, like Bruno, is an RNA-binding protein and specifically binds certain regions of the oskar mRNA 3′ untranslated region.

Instability of the anteroposterior axis in spontaneous double abdomen (sda), a genetic variant of Chironomus samoensis (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Development ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.L. Kuhn ◽  
J. Percy ◽  
M. Laurel ◽  
K. Kalthoff
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variant ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Posterior Pole ◽  
Mirror Image ◽  
Anterior Pole ◽  
Spontaneous Formation ◽  
Pole Cells ◽  
Anterior Segments ◽  
Egg Polarity

We have isolated a laboratory strain of Chironomus samoensis in which determination of the anteroposterior egg polarity is disturbed. Most conspicuous is the spontaneous formation of ‘double abdomen’ embryos where head and thorax are replaced by a mirror image of the abdomen. Such double abdomens are found in about half of the egg clusters in this strain, which we call the spontaneous double abdomen (sda) strain as opposed to the normal (N) strain. Also observed in the sda strain, although less frequently, are ‘double cephalon’ embryos showing a mirror-image duplication of cephalic segments in the absence of thorax and abdomen. Moreover, embryos from the sda strain tend to form cells at the anterior pole resembling the pole cells at the posterior pole. Reciprocal crossings between the sda and the N strain indicate that the sda trait is inherited maternally. Spontaneous double abdomen formation is correlated with signs of disturbed egg architecture, including extruded yolk and detached cells. Double cephalons can also be generated by centrifuging embryos from the N strain, whereas centrifugation of sda embryos produces mostly double abdomens. Double abdomen formation can be induced experimentally by anterior u.v. irradiation of embryos from either strain. The sda trait and u.v. irradiation act in a synergistic fashion. The data suggest that the sda trait may be caused by one or more genomic mutations interfering indirectly with the activity of anterior determinants, i.e. cytoplasmic RNP particles necessary for the development of anterior segments. The sda defects may be ascribed to alterations in cytoskeletal components involved in anchoring anterior determinants and segregating them into anterior blastoderm cells.

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