RNA recognition by the embryonic cell fate determinant and germline totipotency factor MEX-3
- 1 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 106 (48) , 20252-20257
Abstract
Totipotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into every cell type. Renewal of totipotent stem cells in the germline and cellular differentiation during early embryogenesis rely upon posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. The Caenorhabditis elegans RNA binding protein, MEX-3, plays a key role in both processes. MEX-3 is a maternally-supplied factor that controls the RNA metabolism of transcripts encoding critical cell fate determinants. However, the nucleotide sequence specificity and requirements of MEX-3 mRNA recognition remain unclear. Only a few candidate regulatory targets have been identified, and the full extent of the network of MEX-3 targets is not known. Here, we define the consensus sequence required for MEX-3 RNA recognition and demonstrate that this element is required for MEX-3 dependent regulation of gene expression in live worms. Based on this work, we identify several candidate MEX-3 targets that help explain its dual role in regulating germline stem cell totipotency and embryonic cell fate specification.Keywords
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- The zinc fingers of the SR-like protein ZRANB2 are single-stranded RNA-binding domains that recognize 5′ splice site-like sequencesProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009
- C. elegans RNA-binding proteins PUF-8 and MEX-3 function redundantly to promote germline stem cell mitosisDevelopmental Biology, 2009
- Single-copy insertion of transgenes in Caenorhabditis elegansNature Genetics, 2008
- 3′ UTRs Are the Primary Regulators of Gene Expression in the C. elegans GermlineCurrent Biology, 2008
- Large P body-like RNPs form in C. elegans oocytes in response to arrested ovulation, heat shock, osmotic stress, and anoxia and are regulated by the major sperm protein pathwayDevelopmental Biology, 2008
- Multiple maternal proteins coordinate to restrict the translation ofC. elegans nanos-2to primordial germ cellsDevelopment, 2008
- Identification and characterization of human Mex-3 proteins, a novel family of evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins differentially localized to processing bodiesNucleic Acids Research, 2007
- Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined FactorsCell, 2006
- Full-genome RNAi profiling of early embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegansNature, 2005
- Sequence-Specific RNA Binding by a Nova KH DomainCell, 2000