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First published online 13 September 2006
doi: 10.1242/dev.02572

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The role of Tudor domains in germline development and polar granule architecture

¹ Developmental Genetics Program, HHMI, Skirball Institute at New York University School of Medicine, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
² Molecular Structure Division, National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK.

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: lehmann{at}saturn.med.nyu.edu)

Accepted 7 August 2006

Tudor domains are found in many organisms and have been implicated in protein-protein interactions in which methylated protein substrates bind to these domains. Here, we present evidence for the involvement of specific Tudor domains in germline development. Drosophila Tudor, the founder of the Tudor domain family, contains 11 Tudor domains and is a component of polar granules and nuage, electron-dense organelles characteristic of the germline in many organisms, including mammals. In this study, we investigated whether the 11 Tudor domains fulfil specific functions for polar granule assembly, germ cell formation and abdomen formation. We find that even a small number of non-overlapping Tudor domains or a substantial reduction in overall Tudor protein is sufficient for abdomen development. In stark contrast, we find a requirement for specific Tudor domains in germ cell formation, Tudor localization and polar granule architecture. Combining genetic analysis with structural modeling of specific Tudor domains, we propose that these domains serve as `docking platforms' for polar granule assembly.

Key words: Drosophila, Germline development, Nuage, Polar granule, Tudor domain, Methylosome, PRMT5

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