title: Dynein light chain DLC-1 promotes localization and function of the PUF protein FBF-2 in germline progenitor cells.
abstract: PUF family translational repressors are conserved developmental regulators, but the molecular function provided by the regions flanking the PUF RNA-binding domain is unknown. In C. elegans, the PUF proteins FBF-1 and FBF-2 support germline progenitor maintenance by repressing production of meiotic proteins and use distinct mechanisms to repress their target mRNAs. We identify dynein light chain DLC-1 as an important regulator of FBF-2 function. DLC-1 directly binds to FBF-2 outside of the RNA-binding domain and promotes FBF-2 localization and function. By contrast, DLC-1 does not interact with FBF-1 and does not contribute to FBF-1 activity. Surprisingly, we find that the contribution of DLC-1 to FBF-2 activity is independent of the dynein motor. Our findings suggest that PUF protein localization and activity are mediated by sequences flanking the RNA-binding domain that bind specific molecular partners. Furthermore, these results identify a new role for DLC-1 in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
authors.forename: Jenessa R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, HHMI, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rasoloson
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellenbecker
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA ekaterina.voronina@umontana.edu.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0194-4260
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voronina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004398:Dyneins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C109286:fem-3-binding protein, C elegans; C586892:DLC-1 protein, C elegans; D004398:Dyneins
keywords: Germline; LC8 family proteins; Post-transcriptional regulation; RNA-binding protein; Stem cells