title: Rab6 and the secretory pathway affect oocyte polarity in Drosophila.
abstract: The Drosophila oocyte is a highly polarized cell. Secretion occurs towards restricted neighboring cells and asymmetric transport controls the localization of several mRNAs to distinct cortical compartments. Here, we describe a role for the Drosophila ortholog of the Rab6 GTPase, Drab6, in establishing cell polarity during oogenesis. We found that Drab6 localizes to Golgi and Golgi-derived membranes and interacts with BicD. We also provide evidence that Drab6 and BicD function together to ensure the correct delivery of secretory pathway components, such as the TGFalpha homolog Gurken, to the plasma membrane. Moreover, in the absence of Drab6, osk mRNA localization and the organization of microtubule plus-ends at the posterior of the oocyte were both severely affected. Our results point to a possible connection between Rab protein-mediated secretion, organization of the cytoskeleton and mRNA transport.
authors.affiliation: Institut Jacques Monod, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7592, CNRS, Universités Paris 6 et Paris 7, 2 place Jussieu, F-75251, Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Januschke
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Compagnon
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Formstecher
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goud
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guichet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*