Reconstitution of chromatoid body-like particles in cultured cells: a novel approach to elucidate the mechanism of assembly and function of the chromatoid body.
The chromatoid body is a large perinuclear ribonucleoprotein particle of germ cells. The chromatoid body is also present in stem cells from planarians. This particle shares markers specific to protein aggresomes and P-bodies, and concentrate several RNA pathways. The assembly mechanism of chromatoid bodies is unknown, and in the absence of molecular approaches to test their function, their role as a possible center for posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression remains speculative. Recently, an RNA granule similar to the chromatoid body was fortuitously reconstituted in cultured cells by expressing a cytoplasmic isoform of the prion protein. This finding opens new avenues of investigations in the field of the still elusive chromatoid body.
Roucou
Xavier
X
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. xavier.roucou@usherbrooke.ca
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010932:Planarians; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012313:RNA