In vivo mapping of the functional regions of the DEAD-box helicase Vasa

Biology Open
Mehrnoush Dehghani, Paul Lasko

Abstract

The maternally expressed Drosophila melanogaster DEAD-box helicase Vasa (Vas) is necessary for many cellular and developmental processes, including specification of primordial germ cells (pole cells), posterior patterning of the embryo, piRNA-mediated repression of transposon-encoded mRNAs, translational activation of gurken (grk) mRNA, and completion of oogenesis itself. Vas protein accumulates in the perinuclear nuage in nurse cells soon after their specification, and then at stage 10 Vas translocates to the posterior pole plasm of the oocyte. We produced a series of transgenic constructs encoding eGFP-Vas proteins carrying mutations affecting different regions of the protein, and analyzed in vivo which Vas functions each could support. We identified novel domains in the N- and C-terminal regions of the protein that are essential for localization, transposon repression, posterior patterning, and pole cell specification. One such functional region, the most C-terminal seven amino acids, is specific to Vas orthologues and is thus critical to distinguishing Vas from other closely related DEAD-box helicases. Surprisingly, we also found that many eGFP-Vas proteins carrying mutations that would be expected to abrogate DEAD-box heli...Continue Reading

References

Oct 22, 1982·Science·G M Rubin, A C Spradling
Dec 6, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Y FujiwaraT Noce
Oct 1, 1996·Nucleic Acids Research·G M LammA I Lamond
Aug 1, 1997·Mechanisms of Development·L C OlsenA Fjose
Aug 2, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D H CastrillonC P Crum
Nov 23, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J M CaruthersD B McKay
Sep 11, 2002·Progress in Nucleic Acid Research and Molecular Biology·George W RogersWilliam C Merrick
Mar 3, 2004·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·Sanda Rocak, Patrick Linder
Jul 29, 2004·Development·Oona Johnstone, Paul Lasko
Dec 13, 2005·Gene·Olivier CordinPatrick Linder
Apr 25, 2006·Cell·Toru SengokuShigeyuki Yokoyama
Nov 23, 2007·Development·Carla Klattenhoff, William Theurkauf
Feb 4, 2010·Molecular and Cellular Biology·Jan-Michael KuglerPaul Lasko
Dec 28, 2010·Current Biology : CB·Jun Wei Pek, Toshie Kai
Nov 29, 2012·PLoS Biology·Erin S KelleherDaniel A Barbash
Jan 1, 2012·Development, Growth & Differentiation·Jun Wei PekToshie Kai
Jul 1, 1986·Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology : the Official Organ of the EDBO·Trudi Schüpbach, Eric Wieschaus

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 12, 2017·Zoological Science·Kazumi ShimaokaTohru Komiya
Sep 6, 2019·Genetics·Zeljko Durdevic, Anne Ephrussi
May 17, 2017·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Valeria SpecchiaMaria Pia Bozzetti
Oct 25, 2020·Biological Chemistry·Jana KubíkováMandy Jeske
Feb 6, 2021·Biological Chemistry·Jana KubíkováMandy Jeske
Nov 1, 2019·Genetics·Zeljko Durdevic, Anne Ephrussi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
transgenic
PCR
protein folding
electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

Volocity

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.