Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
10:24

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Published on: September 27, 2015

Clast4, the murine homologue of human eIF4E-Transporter, is highly expressed in developing oocytes and

J Carlos Villaescusa1, Patrick Allard, Emanuela Carminati

  • 1CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy.

Gene
|December 14, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Mouse Clast4 protein, a homolog of Drosophila Cup, is highly expressed in oocytes and interacts with eIF4E. This suggests Clast4 regulates translation during female germ-line development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Translational regulation of maternal mRNAs is crucial for metazoan oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis.
  • General translation factors like eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and their interactors control translation initiation.
  • Drosophila Cup is a known translational repressor in female germ-line development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize a mouse homolog of Drosophila Cup.
  • To investigate the role of the identified protein, Clast4, in murine female germ-line development.

Main Methods:

  • Protein database search for mouse homolog of Drosophila Cup.
  • Analysis of Clast4 mRNA and protein expression in growing oocytes.
  • Investigation of Clast4 protein stability and post-translational modification (phosphorylation).
  • Co-immunoprecipitation assays to assess Clast4 and eIF4E interaction.

Main Results:

  • The mouse Clast4 gene product was identified as a homolog of Drosophila Cup.
  • Clast4 mRNA and protein are highly expressed in the cytoplasm of growing oocytes.
  • Clast4 protein is stable and phosphorylated during oocyte meiotic maturation.
  • Clast4 directly interacts with eIF4E via a functional eIF4E-binding motif.

Conclusions:

  • Clast4 is a potential translational repressor in murine female germ-line development.
  • Clast4's interaction with eIF4E suggests a role in regulating translation initiation.
  • These findings highlight Clast4's importance in oocyte development and embryogenesis.

More Related Videos

Enhanced Crosslinking Immunoprecipitation (eCLIP) Method for Efficient Identification of Protein-bound RNA in Mouse Testis10:31

Enhanced Crosslinking Immunoprecipitation (eCLIP) Method for Efficient Identification of Protein-bound RNA in Mouse Testis

Published on: May 10, 2019

Defining the Program of Maternal mRNA Translation during In vitro Maturation using a Single Oocyte Reporter Assay08:00

Defining the Program of Maternal mRNA Translation during In vitro Maturation using a Single Oocyte Reporter Assay

Published on: June 16, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Meiosis II02:02

Meiosis II

Meiosis II entails cell division and segregation of the sister chromatids, resulting in the production of four unique haploid gametes. The steps for meiosis II are similar to mitosis, except that meiosis II occurs in haploid cells, whereas mitosis occurs in diploid cells.
The timing and cell division patterns of meiosis differ between males and females. In male meiosis, the centrosomes are part of the formation of the meiotic spindle. However, in oocytes, including that of humans, Drosophila,...
Meiosis II01:57

Meiosis II

Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each containing...