Open AccessTranslation-dependent mRNA localization to Caenorhabditis elegans adherens junctions
Author(s) -
Cristina Tocchini,
Michèle Rohner,
Laurent Guérard,
Poulomi Ray,
Stephen E. Von Stetina,
Susan E. Mango
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.754
H-Index - 325
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.200027
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , translation (biology) , messenger rna , adherens junction , microbiology and biotechnology , untranslated region , p bodies , subcellular localization , three prime untranslated region , protein subcellular localization prediction , genetics , cell , gene , cytoplasm , cadherin
mRNA localization is an evolutionarily widespread phenomenon that can facilitate subcellular protein targeting. Extensive work has focused on mRNA targeting through ‘zip-codes’ within untranslated regions (UTRs), whereas much less is known about translation-dependent cues. Here, we examine mRNA localization in Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic epithelia. From an smFISH-based survey, we identified mRNAs associated with the cell membrane or cortex, and with apical junctions in a stage- and cell type-specific manner. Mutational analyses for one of these transcripts, dlg-1/discs large, revealed that it relied on a translation-dependent process and did not require its 5′ or 3′ UTRs. We suggest a model in which dlg-1 transcripts are co-translationally localized with the nascent protein: first the translating complex goes to the cell membrane using sequences located at the C-terminal/3′ end, and then apically using N-terminal/5′ sequences. These studies identify a translation-based process for mRNA localization within developing epithelia and determine the necessary cis-acting sequences for dlg-1 mRNA targeting.