Project description:Pumilio (PUM) is a Drosophila member of a conserved family of sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins that have been shown to regulate mRNA stability and/or translation in a variety of organisms. PUM has been shown to repress the translation of several mRNAs in the Drosophila early embryo; failure to repress these targets leads to lethal developmental defects. Here we use a combination of microarray-based gene expression profiling and next-generation sequencing to identify more than 200 mRNAs that are associated with full-length PUM protein in early embryos and to define a global role for PUM in mRNA decay. Surprisingly, despite the fact that PUM is maternally supplied and thus is present from the beginning of embryogenesis, the vast majority of PUM-directed decay occurs only after zygotic genome activation. We show that the smaug mRNA, which itself encodes an RNA-binding protein that directs transcript decay, is a direct target of PUM via binding sites in the smg 3'UTR. Whereas the endogenous smaug mRNA and the transgenic reporter mRNA that carries the smaug 3'UTR undergo decay after zygotic genome activation, a reporter with an array of PUM-binding sites decays before zygotic genome activation. These data support a model in which additional cis-elements in the smg 3'UTR delay decay until after zygotic genome activation.
Project description:To gain a panoramic view of Smaug function in the early embryo we identified mRNAs that are bound to Smaug using RNA co-immunoprecipitation followed by hybridization to DNA microarrays. We also identified the mRNAs that are translationally repressed by Smaug using polysome gradients and microarrays. Comparison of the bound mRNAs to those that are translationally repressed by Smaug and those that require Smaug for their degradation suggests that a large fraction of Smaug?s target mRNAs are both translationally repressed and degraded by Smaug. Smaug directly regulates components of the TRiC/CCT chaperonin, the proteasome regulatory particle and lipid droplets as well as many metabolic enzymes, including several glycolytic enzymes.
Project description:Background: Metazoan embryos undergo a maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) during which a subset of maternal gene products is eliminated and the zygotic genome becomes transcriptionally active. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and the microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) â of which Argonaute 1 (AGO1) is a key component in Drosophila â target maternal mRNAs for degradation. The Drosophila Smaug, Brain tumor (BRAT) and Pumilio (PUM) RBPs direct the degradation of maternal mRNAs. Here we elucidate Smaugâs roles in regulation of miRNAs and miRISC during the MZT. Results: By global analysis of small RNAs at several stages during the MZT, we show that the vast majority of all miRNA species encoded by the Drosophila genome (85%) are expressed during the MZT. Whereas a subset of these miRNAs is loaded into oocytes by the mother and stays at constant levels during the MZT, dozens of miRNA species are either newly synthesized or re-expressed in the early embryo. Loss of Smaug has a profound effect on miRNAs but little effect on piRNAs or siRNAs. Smaug is required for production of new miRNAs during the MZT; Smaug-bound AGO1 reflects the constellation and abundance of the miRNAs present in early embryos; and Smaug is required for the increase in AGO1 protein levels that occurs during the MZT. As a consequence of low miRISC activity in smaug mutants, maternal mRNAs that are normally targeted for degradation by zygotic miRNAs fail to be cleared. BRAT and PUM share target mRNAs with miRISC during the MZT while the miR-309 miRNA family coregulates targets of BRAT but not PUM. Conclusions: Smaug controls the MZT through direct targeting of a subset of maternal mRNAs for degradation and, indirectly, through production and function of miRNAs and miRISC, which control clearance of a distinct subset of maternal mRNAs. BRAT and/or PUM function together with miRISC during the latter process. With respect to miRISC-dependent transcript degradation, Smaug is required (1) for the synthesis of miRNAs, (2) for synthesis and stabilization of AGO1, and (3) for action of AGO1 in association with its bound miRNAs. In smaug mutants a large number of maternal mRNAs persist and the MZT fails. Examination of miRNA expresssion at different time points in wild type and smuag mutant early embryos .
Project description:Background: Metazoan embryos undergo a maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) during which a subset of maternal gene products is eliminated and the zygotic genome becomes transcriptionally active. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and the microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC) – of which Argonaute 1 (AGO1) is a key component in Drosophila – target maternal mRNAs for degradation. The Drosophila Smaug, Brain tumor (BRAT) and Pumilio (PUM) RBPs direct the degradation of maternal mRNAs. Here we elucidate Smaug’s roles in regulation of miRNAs and miRISC during the MZT. Results: By global analysis of small RNAs at several stages during the MZT, we show that the vast majority of all miRNA species encoded by the Drosophila genome (85%) are expressed during the MZT. Whereas a subset of these miRNAs is loaded into oocytes by the mother and stays at constant levels during the MZT, dozens of miRNA species are either newly synthesized or re-expressed in the early embryo. Loss of Smaug has a profound effect on miRNAs but little effect on piRNAs or siRNAs. Smaug is required for production of new miRNAs during the MZT; Smaug-bound AGO1 reflects the constellation and abundance of the miRNAs present in early embryos; and Smaug is required for the increase in AGO1 protein levels that occurs during the MZT. As a consequence of low miRISC activity in smaug mutants, maternal mRNAs that are normally targeted for degradation by zygotic miRNAs fail to be cleared. BRAT and PUM share target mRNAs with miRISC during the MZT while the miR-309 miRNA family coregulates targets of BRAT but not PUM. Conclusions: Smaug controls the MZT through direct targeting of a subset of maternal mRNAs for degradation and, indirectly, through production and function of miRNAs and miRISC, which control clearance of a distinct subset of maternal mRNAs. BRAT and/or PUM function together with miRISC during the latter process. With respect to miRISC-dependent transcript degradation, Smaug is required (1) for the synthesis of miRNAs, (2) for synthesis and stabilization of AGO1, and (3) for action of AGO1 in association with its bound miRNAs. In smaug mutants a large number of maternal mRNAs persist and the MZT fails.
Project description:BRAT-associated mRNAs and PUM-associated mRNAs were identified in early Drosophila embryos by RNA co-immunoprecipitation of the endogenous proteins using synthetic antibodies, followed by microarray analysis (RIP-Chip).
Project description:To identify Smaug’s target mRNAs on a genome-wide scale we used ribonucleoprotein (RNP) co-immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis of the co-purifying mRNAs (RIP-Chip). Extracts, prepared from wild-type embryos collected 0-3 hours post-egglaying, were immunoprecipitated with an anti-Smaug antibody (Smaug RIPs) while control immunoprecipitations using non-immune serum served as a negative control (control RIPs). Genome-wide transcript expression in wild-type embryos were also assessed and used as reference.
Project description:RIN-associated mRNAs were identified in early Drosophila embryos by RNA co-immunoprecipitation of the endogenous protein using a synthetic antibody (anti-RIN D072), followed by microarray analysis (RIP-Chip).