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RNA–RNA interaction is required for the formation of specific bicoid mRNA 3′ UTR–STAUFEN ribonucleoprotein particles
Author(s) -
Ferrandon Dominique,
Koch Iris,
Westhof Eric,
Nüsslein–Volhard Christiane
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/16.7.1751
Subject(s) - rna , ribonucleoprotein , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , untranslated region , messenger rnp , rna binding protein , three prime untranslated region , ribonucleoprotein particle , genetics , gene
The formation of the anterior pattern of the Drosophila embryo is dependent on the localization of the mRNA of the morphogen Bicoid ( bcd ) to the anterior pole of the egg cell. Staufen protein (STAU) is required in a late step of the localization to anchor the bcd mRNA in the anterior cytoplasm. We have shown previously that endogenous STAU associates specifically with injected bcd mRNA 3′‐untranslated region (UTR), resulting in the formation of characteristic RNA–protein particles that are transported along microtubules of the mitotic spindles in a directed manner. The regions recognized by STAU in this in vivo assay are predicted to form three stem–loop structures involving large double‐stranded stretches. Here, we show that the STAU interaction requires a double‐stranded conformation of the stems within the RNA localization signal. In addition, base pairing between two single‐stranded loops plays a major role in particle formation. This loop–loop interaction is intermolecular, not intramolecular; thus dimers or multimers of the RNA localization signal must be associated with STAU in these particles. The bcd mRNA 3′ UTR can also dimerize in vitro in the absence of STAU. Thus, in addition to RNA–protein interactions, RNA–RNA interaction might be involved in the formation of ribonucleoprotein particles for transport and localization.