Egalitarian recruitment of localized mRNAs.
Bicaudal-D (Bic-D) and Egalitarian (Egl) are required for the dynein-dependent localization of many mRNAs in Drosophila, but the mRNAs show no obvious sequence similarities, and the RNA-binding proteins that recognize them and link them to dynein are not known. In this issue of Genes & Development, Dienstbier and colleagues (pp. 1546-1558) present evidence that the elusive RNA-binding protein is Egl itself. As well as linking mRNA to dynein, they show that Egl also activates dynein motility by binding Bic-D and the dynein light chain.
Nashchekin
Dmitry
D
Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
St Johnston
Daniel
D
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004398:Dyneins / Q000378:metabolism; D034443:RNA Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
C061998:BicD protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C104613:egl protein, Drosophila; D004398:Dyneins