Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
Published on: September 27, 2015
The Drosophila PNG kinase complex regulates the translation of cyclin B
Leah Vardy1, Terry L Orr-Weaver
1Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Abstract:
The Drosophila PAN GU (PNG) kinase complex regulates the developmental translation of cyclin B. cyclin B mRNA becomes unmasked during oogenesis independent of PNG activity, but PNG is required for translation from egg activation. We find that although polyadenylation of cyclin B augments translation, it is not essential, and a fully elongated poly(A) is not required for translation to proceed. In fact, changes in poly(A) tail length are not sufficient to account for PNG-mediated control of cyclin B translation and of the early embryonic cell cycles. We present evidence that PNG functions instead as an antagonist of PUMILIO-dependent translational repression. Our data argue that changes in poly(A) tail length are not a universal mechanism governing embryonic cell cycles, and that PNG-mediated derepression of translation is an important alternative mechanism in Drosophila.
Related Concept Videos
Positive Regulator Molecules
Positive Regulator Molecules
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
Anaphase Promoting Complex
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

