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Prosomes, subcomplexes of untranslated mRNP
1Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France.
Molecular Biology Reports
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Prosomes are novel ribonucleoprotein particles that bind inactive mRNA, inhibiting protein synthesis. Their association with intermediate filaments suggests a role in mRNA localization within cells.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prosomes are novel small ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles.
- They are composed of variable RNA and protein components.
- Prosomes are found attached to inactive messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the composition and function of prosomes.
- To understand their role in protein synthesis regulation.
- To explore their association with cellular structures.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy (EM) for morphology.
- In vitro assays for mRNA association and protein synthesis inhibition.
- Monoclonal antibodies (pMABs) for antigen localization.
Main Results:
- Prosomes exhibit uniform morphology but variable composition.
- They inhibit cell-free protein synthesis by inducing mRNA structures that prevent ribosome interaction.
- Prosomes associate with intermediate filaments (IF) and are found in the nucleus.
Conclusions:
- Prosomes can recognize and inactivate mRNA.
- Their association with IFs may indicate a role in mRNA topological distribution.
- Prosomes are conserved but have species-specific variations, with high abundance in oocytes.