Premature translation of oskar in oocytes lacking the RNA-binding protein bicaudal-C.
Bicaudal-C (Bic-C) is required during Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis for several processes, including anterior-posterior patterning. The gene encodes a protein with five copies of the KH domain, a motif found in a number of RNA-binding proteins. Using antibodies raised against the BIC-C protein, we show that multiple isoforms of the protein exist in ovaries and that the protein, like the RNA, accumulates in the developing oocyte early in oogenesis. BIC-C protein expressed in mammalian cells can bind RNA in vitro, and a point mutation in one of the KH domains that causes a strong Bic-C phenotype weakens this binding. In addition, oskar translation commences prior to posterior localization of oskar RNA in Bic-C- oocytes, indicating that Bic-C may regulate oskar translation during oogenesis.
Departments of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3A 1B1.
E E
EE
Saffman
S
S
Styhler
K
K
Rother
W
W
Li
S
S
Richard
P
P
Lasko
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019556:COS Cells; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009865:Oocytes; D009866:Oogenesis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012965:Sodium Chloride
C113767:BicC protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C091675:osk protein, Drosophila; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012313:RNA; D001120:Arginine; D005998:Glycine