Interaction with eIF5B is essential for Vasa function during development.
The DEAD-box RNA helicase Vasa (Vas) is required for germ cell development and function, as well as for embryonic somatic posterior patterning. Vas interacts with the general translation initiation factor eIF5B (cIF2, also known as dIF2), and thus may regulate translation of specific mRNAs. In order to investigate which functions of Vas are related to translational control, we have analyzed the effects of site-directed vas mutations that reduce or eliminate interaction with eIF5B. Reduction in Vas-eIF5B interaction during oogenesis leads to female sterility, with phenotypes similar to a vas null mutation. Accumulation of Gurken (Grk) protein is greatly reduced when Vas-eIF5B interaction is reduced, suggesting that this interaction is crucial for translational regulation of grk. In addition, we show that reduction in Vas-eIF5B interaction virtually abolishes germ cell formation in embryos, while producing a less severe effect on somatic posterior patterning. We conclude that interaction with the general translation factor eIF5B is essential for Vas function during development.
Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montréal, Québec H3A 1B1, Canada.
Oona
O
Johnstone
Paul
P
Lasko
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C451459:eukaryotic initiation factor-5B; C083730:grk protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012313:RNA; C088269:vas protein, Drosophila; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases