bicoid mRNA localises to the Drosophila oocyte anterior by random Dynein-mediated transport and anchoring
- University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Princeton University, United States
Abstract
bicoid mRNA localises to the Drosophila oocyte anterior from stage 9 of oogenesis onwards to provide a local source for Bicoid protein for embryonic patterning. Live imaging at stage 9 reveals that bicoid mRNA particles undergo rapid Dynein-dependent movements near the oocyte anterior, but with no directional bias. Furthermore, bicoid mRNA localises normally in shot2A2, which abolishes the polarised microtubule organisation. FRAP and photo-conversion experiments demonstrate that the RNA is stably anchored at the anterior, independently of microtubules. Thus, bicoid mRNA is localised by random active transport and anterior anchoring. Super-resolution imaging reveals that bicoid mRNA forms 110-120nm particles with variable RNA content, but constant size. These particles appear to be well-defined structures that package the RNA for transport and anchoring.
Article and author information
Author details
Daniel St Johnston
Funding
European Commission (Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), Marie Curie Intraeuropean felowship, 236621)
- Vítor Trovisco
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC/EURORNAQ , BB/F010303)
- Daniel St Johnston
Darwin Trust Scholarship
- Katsiaryna Belaya
Wellcome (Strategic Award, 095297)
- George Sirinakis
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Copyright
© 2016, Trovisco et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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bicoid mRNA localises to the Drosophila oocyte anterior by random Dynein-mediated transport and anchoring
eLife 5:e17537.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17537
