Potential structural role of non-coding and coding RNAs in the organization of the cytoskeleton at the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes.
The localization of RNA within a cell or embryo is crucial for proper cellular function or development. There is evidence that the cytoskeleton and RNA may function in the anchoring of localized RNAs at the vegetal cortex of Xenopus laevis oocytes. We found that the organization of the cytokeratin filaments but not the actin cytoskeleton depends on the presence of intact VegT mRNA and a noncoding RNA, Xlsirts. Destruction of either of these transcripts results in disruption of the cytokeratin cytoskeleton in a transcript-specific manner and interferes with proper formation of the germinal granules and subsequent development of the germline. Analysis of the distribution of endogenous VegT and Xlsirts in live oocytes using molecular beacons showed that these RNAs are integrated into the cytokeratin cytoskeleton. These results demonstrate a novel structural role of coding and noncoding RNAs in the organization of the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes.
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX 77030, USA.
Malgorzata
M
Kloc
Katarzyna
K
Wilk
Diana
D
Vargas
Yuri
Y
Shirato
Szczepan
S
Bilinski
Laurence D
LD
Etkin
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005815:Genetic Code; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012313:RNA; D007633:Keratins