The splicing factor crooked neck associates with the RNA-binding protein HOW to control glial cell maturation in Drosophila.
In both vertebrates and invertebrates, glial cells wrap axonal processes to ensure electrical conductance. Here we report that Crooked neck (Crn), the Drosophila homolog of the yeast Clf1p splicing factor, is directing peripheral glial cell maturation. We show that crooked neck is expressed and required in glial cells to control migration and axonal wrapping. Within the cytoplasm, Crn interacts with the RNA-binding protein HOW and then translocates to the nucleus where the Crn/HOW complex controls glial differentiation by facilitating splicing of specific target genes. By using a GFP-exon trap approach, we identified some of the in vivo target genes that encode proteins localized in autocellular septate junctions. In conclusion, here we show that glial cell differentiation is controlled by a cytoplasmic assembly of splicing components, which upon translocation to the nucleus promote the splicing of genes involved in the assembly of cellular junctions.
Edenfeld
Gundula
G
Institut für Neurobiologie, Universität Münster, Badestrasse 9, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
Volohonsky
Gloria
G
Krukkert
Karin
K
Naffin
Elke
E
Lammel
Uwe
U
Grimm
Alexandra
A
Engelen
Daniel
D
Reuveny
Adriana
A
Volk
Talila
T
Klämbt
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C069204:crn protein, Drosophila; C106296:how protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins