title: Function of RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 in stem cells.
abstract: Musashi is an evolutionarily conserved family of RNA-binding proteins that is preferentially expressed in the nervous system. The first member of the Musashi family was identified in Drosophila. This protein plays an essential role in regulating the asymmetric cell division of ectodermal precursor cells known as sensory organ precursor cells through the translational regulation of target mRNA. In the CNS of Drosophila larvae, however, Musashi is expressed in proliferating neuroblasts and likely has a different function. Its probable mammalian homologue, Musashi-1, is a neural RNA-binding protein that is strongly expressed in fetal and adult neural stem cells (NSCs). Mammalian Musashi-1 augments Notch signaling through the translational repression of its target mRNA, m-Numb, thereby contributing to the self-renewal of NSCs. In addition to its functions in NSCs, the role of mammalian Musashi-1 protein in epithelial stem cells, including intestinal and mammary gland stem cells, is attracting increasing interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. hidokano@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toriya
authors.forename: Keio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C088623:msi protein, Drosophila