Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
11:34

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

Published on: August 9, 2019

A sequence-specific RNA binding complex expressed in murine germ cells contains MSY2 and MSY4

H G Davies1, F Giorgini, M A Fajardo

  • 1Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.

Developmental Biology
|April 25, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Mice store protamine mRNAs in repressed particles. A novel protein, Msy4, binds to these mRNAs, suggesting a role in regulating gene expression during sperm development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Protamine mRNAs are translationally repressed during murine spermatogenesis, stored in ribonucleoprotein particles for up to 8 days.
  • Translational repression of protamine 1 (Prm1) mRNA is regulated by sequences in its 3'-untranslated region (UTR).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify proteins involved in the translational repression and storage of protamine mRNAs.
  • To characterize the function of novel Y-box binding proteins in germ cell development.

Main Methods:

  • Yeast three-hybrid system for cloning nucleic acid-binding proteins.
  • Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and immunoprecipitation to analyze protein-RNA interactions.
  • Polysome analysis to assess mRNA translation status.

Main Results:

  • Cloned Msy4, a novel Y-box family nucleic acid-binding protein, using the yeast three-hybrid system.
  • Demonstrated that Msy4 specifically binds to the 5' region of the Prm1 3' UTR.
  • MSY4 is highly expressed in the testis and detected in germ cell cytoplasm of both testis and ovary.
  • Identified MSY4 as a component of a 48/50-kDa binding activity in testis extracts, along with MSY2.
  • MSY4 is associated with messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs), indicating a role in storing repressed messages.

Conclusions:

  • Msy4 is a key protein involved in the translational repression and storage of protamine mRNAs during spermatogenesis.
  • Msy4, along with MSY2, forms a complex that binds to Prm1 mRNA, contributing to translational control in germ cells.
  • The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression in male germ cells.

More Related Videos

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria08:34

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2021

An Integrated Approach for Microprotein Identification and Sequence Analysis09:37

An Integrated Approach for Microprotein Identification and Sequence Analysis

Published on: July 12, 2022

Related Concept Videos

RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
Nuclear Export of mRNA02:31

Nuclear Export of mRNA

Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...