The Drosophila FMRP and LARK RNA-binding proteins function together to regulate eye development and circadian behavior.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of hereditary mental retardation. FXS patients have a deficit for the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) that results in abnormal neuronal dendritic spine morphology and behavioral phenotypes, including sleep abnormalities. In a Drosophila model of FXS, flies lacking the dfmr1 protein (dFMRP) have abnormal circadian rhythms apparently as a result of altered clock output. In this study, we present biochemical and genetic evidence that dFMRP interacts with a known clock output component, the LARK RNA-binding protein. Our studies demonstrate physical interactions between dFMRP and LARK, that the two proteins are present in a complex in vivo, and that LARK promotes the stability of dFMRP. Furthermore, we show genetic interactions between the corresponding genes indicating that dFMRP and LARK function together to regulate eye development and circadian behavior.
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Oyinkan
O
Sofola
Vasudha
V
Sundram
Fanny
F
Ng
Yelena
Y
Kleyner
Joannella
J
Morales
Juan
J
Botas
F Rob
FR
Jackson
David L
DL
Nelson
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004330:Drosophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development*; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C105214:Lark protein, Drosophila