Staufen: a common component of mRNA transport in oocytes and neurons?
Mammalian homologues of Staufen, a protein involved in localizing mRNAs during oogenesis and early central nervous system development in Drosophila, have been identified recently. The mammalian staufen gene encodes a protein containing several conserved double-stranded mRNA-binding domains and is expressed in hippocampal neurons. The mammalian Staufen protein forms granules that are transported to the distal dendrite during neuronal maturation. The Staufen granules colocalize with ribonuclear particles that transport mRNA to the dendrites. These findings might provide clues to a mechanism of mRNA transport conserved in mammalian neurons and Drosophila oogenesis.
Roegiers
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dept of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0725, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008322:Mammals; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C069927:stau protein, Drosophila