Cytoplasmic polyadenylation of Toll mRNA is required for dorsal-ventral patterning in Drosophila embryogenesis.
Toll encodes a receptor that is critical for dorsal-ventral patterning in the early Drosophila embryo. Previous data have suggested that the accumulation of Toll protein in the embryo temporally correlates with elongation of the poly (A) tail of the message. Here, we demonstrate that Toll mRNA is translationally activated by regulated cytoplasmic polyadenylation. We also identify a 192 nucleotide regulatory element in the Toll 3' UTR that is necessary for robust translational activation of Toll mRNA and also regulates polyadenylation. UV crosslinking analyses suggest that two proteins bind specifically to the 192 nucleotide element. One or both of these proteins may be factors that are required for translational regulation or cytoplasmic polyadenylation. These studies demonstrate that regulated polyadenylation plays a critical role in the Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning system.
Schisa
J A
JA
Department of Pharmacology and Program in Genetics, University at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8651, USA.
Strickland
S
S
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007448:Invertebrates; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011061:Poly A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014714:Vertebrates
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C068721:Tl protein, Drosophila; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D011061:Poly A