RNA: RNA Interaction Can Enhance RNA Localisation in Drosophila Oocytes

Eve Hartswood, James Brodie, Georgia Vendra, Ilan Davis, David Finnegan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

RNA localisation is a key mechanism for targeting proteins to particular sub-cellular domains. Sequences necessary and sufficient for localisation have been identified but little is known about factors that affect its kinetics. Transcripts of gurken and the I factor, a non-LTR retrotransposon, co-localise at the nucleus in the dorso-antero corner of the Drosophila oocyte directed by localisation signals, the GLS and ILS. I factor RNA localises faster than gurken after injection into oocytes due to a difference in the intrinsic localisation ability of the GLS and ILS. The kinetics of localisation of RNA containing the ILS are enhanced by the presence of a stem loop, the A loop. This acts as an RNA:RNA interaction element in vivo and in vitro, and stimulates localisation of RNA containing other localisation signals. RNA:RNA interaction may be a general mechanism for modulating RNA localisation and could allow an mRNA that lacks a localisation signal to hitchhike on another RNA that has one.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)729-737
Number of pages9
JournalRNA
Volume18
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Drosophila oocyte
  • I factor
  • RNA localization
  • RNA:RNA interaction
  • gurken

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