First published online December 7, 2007
Development 135, 106e (2008)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
mRNA transport stems from structure
The subcellular localisation of mRNA transcripts during development can
play a key role in the control of patterning and differentiation. In
Drosophila embryos, the mRNAs of some developmental genes, such as
wingless, are localised by their active transport along microtubules
by the dynein complex. Now, on
p. 133, Henry Krause
and co-workers identify a consensus motif for the transport of RNA to the
apical cytoplasm of fly embryos. By using an embryo microinjection assay, the
researchers identify an element (WLE3) in the 3'UTR of wingless
mRNA that is necessary and sufficient for the apical transport of
wingless mRNA in preblastoderm Drosophila melanogaster
embryos. By examining wingless mRNA sequences in other
Drosophila species, the researchers show that WLE3 has a highly
conserved stem-loop structure. Mutagenic analysis, however, indicates that
only a few key residues, base pairs and bulges in WLE3 are required for its
activity. These essential features are also present in other apical
localization elements and might, therefore, define the first consensus motif
for apical RNA transport.
Related articles in Development:
- A stem-loop structure in the wingless transcript defines a consensus motif for apical RNA transport
- Gilberto dos Santos, Andrew J. Simmonds, and Henry M. Krause
Development 2008 135: 133-143.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
