Two isoforms of the Drosophila RNA binding protein, how, act in opposing directions to regulate tendon cell differentiation.
Differential RNA metabolism regulates a wide array of developmental processes. Here, we describe a mechanism that controls the transition from premature Drosophila tendon precursors into mature muscle-bound tendon cells. This mechanism is based on the opposing activities of two isoforms of the RNA binding protein How. While the isoform How(L) is a negative regulator of Stripe, the key modulator of tendon cell differentiation, How(S) isoform elevates Stripe levels, thereby releasing the differentiation arrest induced by How(L). The opposing activities of the How isoforms are manifested by differential rates of mRNA degradation of the target stripe mRNA. This mechanism is conserved, as the mammalian RNA binding Quaking proteins may similarly affect the levels of Krox20, a regulator of Schwann cell maturation.
Nabel-Rosen
H
H
Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
Volohonsky
G
G
Reuveny
A
A
Zaidel-Bar
R
R
Volk
T
T
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020871:RNA Stability; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C098217:Qk protein, mouse; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C106296:how protein, Drosophila; C096359:sr protein, Drosophila