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The fission yeast meiotic regulator Mei2p undergoes nucleocytoplasmic shuttling
M Sato1, S Shinozaki-Yabana, A Yamashita
1Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Schizosaccharomyces pombe Mei2p is an RNA-binding protein that switches the cell cycle from mitotic to meiotic. Mei2p forms a unique dot in the nucleus prior to meiosis I, aided by a non-coding RNA molecule termed meiRNA. Here we show that Mei2p intrinsically undergoes nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Artificial acceleration of nuclear migration of Mei2p advances nuclear dot formation, but meiRNA does not appear to promote the dot formation by modulating the migration rate of Mei2p into the nucleus. Rather, this RNA is likely to facilitate the assembly of Mei2p into a dot structure and trap the protein as such in the nucleus.
Insights
The fission yeast protein Mei2p shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm, forming nuclear dots essential for meiosis. Mei2p nuclear import is accelerated, but meiRNA facilitates dot assembly and retention, not import speed.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mei2p, an RNA-binding protein in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, regulates the cell cycle transition from mitosis to meiosis.
- Mei2p forms a distinct nuclear dot preceding meiosis I, a process influenced by a non-coding RNA called meiRNA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nucleocytoplasmic transport of Mei2p and its relationship with meiRNA in nuclear dot formation.
- To elucidate the role of meiRNA in the dynamics of Mei2p nuclear localization and meiotic progression.
Main Methods:
- Studied Mei2p nucleocytoplasmic shuttling using live-cell imaging techniques.
- Investigated the impact of accelerated nuclear migration on Mei2p dot formation.
- Analyzed the effect of meiRNA on Mei2p nuclear import rate and dot assembly.
Main Results:
- Mei2p exhibits intrinsic nucleocytoplasmic shuttling behavior.
- Accelerated nuclear import of Mei2p advanced the formation of nuclear dots.
- MeiRNA did not influence Mei2p nuclear import rate but was crucial for dot assembly and nuclear retention.
Conclusions:
- Mei2p's nucleocytoplasmic shuttling is an intrinsic property regulating its localization for meiosis.
- MeiRNA's primary role is to facilitate Mei2p assembly into nuclear dots and retain it there, rather than controlling its import rate.