JCB logo
PeproTech: Cell Culture Supplements
  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents
Published 31 July 2006. doi:10.1083/jcb.200512103
The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525 $8.00
JCB, Volume 174, Number 3, 349-358
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF, 3021K)
Right arrow PPT slides of all figures
Right arrow Supplemental Material Index
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new content in the JCB
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Schneider, M. D.
Right arrow Articles by Simmonds, A. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Schneider, M. D.
Right arrow Articles by Simmonds, A. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Article

Gawky is a component of cytoplasmic mRNA processing bodies required for early Drosophila development



Mary D. Schneider1, Nima Najand1, Sana Chaker1, Justin M. Pare1, Julie Haskins1, Sarah C. Hughes3, Tom C. Hobman1, John Locke2, and Andrew J. Simmonds1

1 Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G H7, Canada
3 Duke University, Durham, NC 27708

Correspondence to Andrew J. Simmonds: andrew.simmonds{at}ualberta.ca

In mammalian cells, the GW182 protein localizes to cytoplasmic bodies implicated in the regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability, translation, and the RNA interference pathway. Many of these functions have also been assigned to analogous yeast cytoplasmic mRNA processing bodies. We have characterized the single Drosophila melanogaster homologue of the human GW182 protein family, which we have named Gawky (GW). Drosophila GW localizes to punctate, cytoplasmic foci in an RNA-dependent manner. Drosophila GW bodies (GWBs) appear to function analogously to human GWBs, as human GW182 colocalizes with GW when expressed in Drosophila cells. The RNA-induced silencing complex component Argonaute2 and orthologues of LSm4 and Xrn1 (Pacman) associated with 5'–3' mRNA degradation localize to some GWBs. Reducing GW activity by mutation or antibody injection during syncytial embryo development leads to abnormal nuclear divisions, demonstrating an early requirement for GWB-mediated cytoplasmic mRNA regulation. This suggests that gw represents a previously unknown member of a small group of genes that need to be expressed zygotically during early embryo development.

S.C. Hughes' present address is Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G H7, Canada.

Abbreviations used in this paper: AED, after egg deposition; GW, Gawky; GWB, GW body; miRNA, microRNA; NC, nuclear cycle; PB, processing body; PCM, Pacman; RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex; RRM, RNA recognition motif; SG, stress granule.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:



  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents