A Function for Kinesin I in the Posterior Transport of Oskar MRNA and Staufen Protein

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2000 Sep 23

PMID 11000113

Citations 153

Authors

R P Brendza

L R Serbus

J B Duffy

W M Saxton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The asymmetric localization of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein determinants plays an important role in the establishment of complex body plans. In Drosophila oocytes, the anterior localization of bicoid mRNA and the posterior localization of oskar mRNA are key events in establishing the anterior-posterior axis. Although the mechanisms that drive bicoid and oskar localization have been elusive, oocyte microtubules are known to be essential. Here we report that the plus end-directed microtubule motor kinesin I is required for the posterior localization of oskar mRNA and an associated protein, Staufen, but not for the anterior-posterior localization of other asymmetric factors. Thus, a complex containing oskar mRNA and Staufen may be transported along microtubules to the posterior pole by kinesin I.

Citing Articles

Decoding subcellular RNA localization one molecule at a time.

Biayna J, Dumbovic G Genome Biol. 2025; 26(1):45.

PMID: 40033325 PMC: 11874642. DOI: 10.1186/s13059-025-03507-8.

EB-SUN, a new microtubule plus-end tracking protein in .

Kim S, Rogers S, Lu W, Lee B, Gelfand V Mol Biol Cell. 2024; 35(12):ar147.

PMID: 39475714 PMC: 11656466. DOI: 10.1091/mbc.E24-09-0402.

EB-SUN, a New Microtubule Plus-End Tracking Protein in .

Kim S, Rogers S, Lu W, Lee B, Gelfand V bioRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39314338 PMC: 11419005. DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.11.612465.

The mRNA dynamics underpinning translational control mechanisms of Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis.

Bayer L, Milano S, Bratu D Biochem Soc Trans. 2024; 52(5):2087-2099.

PMID: 39263986 PMC: 11555706. DOI: 10.1042/BST20231293.

Mitochondrial Variation in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii: Phylogeographic Legacy and Mitonuclear Associations With Metabolic Resistance to Pathogens and Insecticides.

Amaya Romero J, Chenal C, Ben Chehida Y, Miles A, Clarkson C, Pedergnana V Genome Biol Evol. 2024; 16(9).

PMID: 39226386 PMC: 11370803. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae172.

References

Gonzalez-Reyes A, Elliott H, St Johnston D . Polarization of both major body axes in Drosophila by gurken-torpedo signalling. Nature. 1995; 375(6533):654-8. DOI: 10.1038/375654a0. View

Li K, Kaufman T . The homeotic target gene centrosomin encodes an essential centrosomal component. Cell. 1996; 85(4):585-96. DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81258-1. View

Clark I, Jan L, Jan Y . Reciprocal localization of Nod and kinesin fusion proteins indicates microtubule polarity in the Drosophila oocyte, epithelium, neuron and muscle. Development. 1997; 124(2):461-70. DOI: 10.1242/dev.124.2.461. View

Pokrywka N, Stephenson E . Microtubules are a general component of mRNA localization systems in Drosophila oocytes. Dev Biol. 1995; 167(1):363-70. DOI: 10.1006/dbio.1995.1030. View

Christerson L, McKearin D . orb is required for anteroposterior and dorsoventral patterning during Drosophila oogenesis. Genes Dev. 1994; 8(5):614-28. DOI: 10.1101/gad.8.5.614. View

Theurkauf W, Smiley S, Wong M, Alberts B . Reorganization of the cytoskeleton during Drosophila oogenesis: implications for axis specification and intercellular transport. Development. 1992; 115(4):923-36. DOI: 10.1242/dev.115.4.923. View

Clark I, Giniger E, Ruohola-Baker H, Jan L, Jan Y . Transient posterior localization of a kinesin fusion protein reflects anteroposterior polarity of the Drosophila oocyte. Curr Biol. 1994; 4(4):289-300. DOI: 10.1016/s0960-9822(00)00068-3. View

Lantz V, Chang J, Horabin J, Bopp D, Schedl P . The Drosophila orb RNA-binding protein is required for the formation of the egg chamber and establishment of polarity. Genes Dev. 1994; 8(5):598-613. DOI: 10.1101/gad.8.5.598. View

Lasko P . RNA sorting in Drosophila oocytes and embryos. FASEB J. 1999; 13(3):421-33. DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.13.3.421. View

10.

Van Eeden F, St Johnston D . The polarisation of the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes during Drosophila oogenesis. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 1999; 9(4):396-404. DOI: 10.1016/S0959-437X(99)80060-4. View

11.

Chang J, Tan L, Schedl P . The Drosophila CPEB homolog, orb, is required for oskar protein expression in oocytes. Dev Biol. 1999; 215(1):91-106. DOI: 10.1006/dbio.1999.9444. View

12.

Martin M, Hurd D, Saxton W . Kinesins in the nervous system. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2001; 56(3-4):200-16. PMC: 11146874. DOI: 10.1007/s000180050422. View

13.

Koch E, Spitzer R . Multiple effects of colchicine on oogenesis in Drosophila: induced sterility and switch of potential oocyte to nurse-cell developmental pathway. Cell Tissue Res. 1983; 228(1):21-32. DOI: 10.1007/BF00206261. View

14.

Saxton W, Hicks J, Goldstein L, Raff E . Kinesin heavy chain is essential for viability and neuromuscular functions in Drosophila, but mutants show no defects in mitosis. Cell. 1991; 64(6):1093-102. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90264-y. View

15.

Kim-Ha J, Smith J, Macdonald P . oskar mRNA is localized to the posterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte. Cell. 1991; 66(1):23-35. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90136-m. View

16.

Ephrussi A, Dickinson L, Lehmann R . Oskar organizes the germ plasm and directs localization of the posterior determinant nanos. Cell. 1991; 66(1):37-50. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90137-n. View

17.

St Johnston D, Beuchle D, Nusslein-Volhard C . Staufen, a gene required to localize maternal RNAs in the Drosophila egg. Cell. 1991; 66(1):51-63. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90138-o. View

18.

Goldstein L, Gunawardena S . Flying through the drosophila cytoskeletal genome. J Cell Biol. 2000; 150(2):F63-8. PMC: 2180230. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.150.2.f63. View

19.

Schnorrer F, Bohmann K, Nusslein-Volhard C . The molecular motor dynein is involved in targeting swallow and bicoid RNA to the anterior pole of Drosophila oocytes. Nat Cell Biol. 2000; 2(4):185-90. DOI: 10.1038/35008601. View

20.

Brendza R, Sheehan K, Turner F, Saxton W . Clonal tests of conventional kinesin function during cell proliferation and differentiation. Mol Biol Cell. 2000; 11(4):1329-43. PMC: 14850. DOI: 10.1091/mbc.11.4.1329. View