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POS-1 and GLD-1 repress glp-1 translation through a conserved binding-site cluster

Brian M Farley1, Sean P Ryder

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.

Molecular Biology of the Cell
|October 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

RNA-binding proteins POS-1 and GLD-1 regulate early embryo development by controlling the translation of the glp-1 gene. They bind overlapping sites in the glp-1 3' untranslated region to repress gene expression.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are crucial for cell fate specification and differentiation.
  • Maternal mRNA regulation by RBPs is essential during oocyte development and early embryogenesis.
  • The Caenorhabditis elegans glp-1 gene, a Notch homologue, is vital for germline progenitor proliferation and anterior fate specification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map cis-regulatory elements controlling glp-1 translation.
  • To investigate the roles of RBPs POS-1 and GLD-1 in glp-1 regulation.
  • To understand the mechanism of translational control of glp-1 during embryogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Mapping cis-regulatory elements in the glp-1 3' untranslated region (UTR).
  • Analyzing binding sites and interactions of POS-1 and GLD-1 on glp-1 mRNA.
  • Investigating the in vivo function of POS-1 binding sites.

Main Results:

  • POS-1 and GLD-1 recognize adjacent, overlapping binding sites within the glp-1 3' UTR.
  • POS-1 binding inhibits GLD-1 binding.
  • Both POS-1 and GLD-1 are required to repress glp-1 translation in embryos, acting in parallel pathways.
  • Only one of two potential POS-1 binding sites in the glp-1 3' UTR is functional in vivo, overlapping a translational derepression element.

Conclusions:

  • POS-1 and GLD-1 function in parallel pathways to repress glp-1 translation during early embryogenesis.
  • POS-1 likely regulates glp-1 mRNA translation by sterically hindering other RBPs from accessing critical regulatory sequences.
  • The specific binding and functional activity of POS-1 sites highlight intricate regulatory mechanisms in early development.

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