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The Cajal body and histone locus body
Zehra Nizami1, Svetlana Deryusheva, Joseph G Gall
1Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|May 28, 2010
Summary
Cajal bodies (CBs) are nuclear organelles identified by coilin and scaRNAs. These structures concentrate RNA processing factors, suggesting roles in splicing and histone pre-mRNA processing.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The Cajal body (CB) is a nuclear organelle found in eukaryotes, characterized by the protein coilin and CB-specific RNAs (scaRNAs).
- CBs are rich in splicing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and other RNA processing factors, indicating a role in nuclear splicing machinery assembly or modification.
- The histone locus body (HLB) is associated with histone genes and contains factors for histone pre-mRNA processing, suggesting a role in concentrating these factors at their site of action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the function and characteristics of Cajal bodies (CBs) and Histone Locus Bodies (HLBs).
- To understand the role of these nuclear organelles in RNA processing and gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of Cajal bodies (CBs) and Histone Locus Bodies (HLBs) in eukaryotic cells.
- Identification of key proteins (e.g., coilin) and RNAs (e.g., scaRNAs) associated with CBs.
- Analysis of the cellular localization and cell cycle-dependent behavior of CBs and HLBs.
Main Results:
- Cajal bodies (CBs) are identified by coilin and scaRNAs and contain high concentrations of splicing snRNPs and RNA processing factors.
- Histone locus bodies (HLBs) are involved in processing histone pre-mRNAs and are located near histone genes.
- Both CBs and HLBs are present during interphase but disappear during mitosis.
- CB biogenesis exhibits self-organizing properties.
Conclusions:
- CBs and HLBs are crucial nuclear organelles involved in RNA processing, particularly splicing and histone pre-mRNA maturation.
- Their function appears to be the concentration of specific processing factors at their sites of action.
- The self-organizing nature of CB biogenesis suggests intrinsic mechanisms for their formation and maintenance.
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