The Drosophila PNG kinase complex regulates the translation of cyclin B.
The Drosophila PAN GU (PNG) kinase complex regulates the developmental translation of cyclin B. cyclin B mRNA becomes unmasked during oogenesis independent of PNG activity, but PNG is required for translation from egg activation. We find that although polyadenylation of cyclin B augments translation, it is not essential, and a fully elongated poly(A) is not required for translation to proceed. In fact, changes in poly(A) tail length are not sufficient to account for PNG-mediated control of cyclin B translation and of the early embryonic cell cycles. We present evidence that PNG functions instead as an antagonist of PUMILIO-dependent translational repression. Our data argue that changes in poly(A) tail length are not a universal mechanism governing embryonic cell cycles, and that PNG-mediated derepression of translation is an important alternative mechanism in Drosophila.
Vardy
Leah
L
Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Orr-Weaver
Terry L
TL
D000818:Animals; D019926:Cyclin B / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D026723:Polyadenylation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
D019926:Cyclin B; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C074333:pum protein, Drosophila; C417221:png protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases