Wingless can't fly so it hitches a ride with dynein.
Asymmetric RNA localization is required for many developmental processes in a wide range of organisms. For example, wingless and pair-rule transcripts are localized to the apical membrane of polarized cells. It has been unclear, however, if this localization is important for biological activity and, in addition, how the transcripts are transported. Two recent studies (1,2) have identified cis-elements and trans-acting factors that are required for the asymmetric localization of mRNAs. Correct localization is shown to be required for biological activity, and a mechanism of RNA transport involving the microtubule motor dynein has been revealed.
Myster
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Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA. smyster@email.unc.edu
Peifer
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D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004398:Dyneins / Q000502:physiology*; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology; D051155:Wnt1 Protein
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C073970:swa protein, Drosophila; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila; D004398:Dyneins