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Granules harboring translationally active mRNAs provide a platform for P-body formation following stress

Jennifer Lui1, Lydia M Castelli1, Mariavittoria Pizzinga1

  • 1Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

Cell Reports
|December 2, 2014
PubMed

Insights

In unstressed cells, specific mRNAs form granules, aiding stress granule and P-body formation. These mRNA granules may coregulate protein expression, similar to prokaryotic operons.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression

Background:

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) localization directs protein production and influences mRNA fate in eukaryotic cells.
  • Translationally repressed mRNAs are found in P-bodies (for decay) and stress granules (for storage).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and characteristics of mRNA granules in unstressed, actively growing cells.
  • To understand the relationship between these granules and the formation of P-bodies and stress granules.

Main Methods:

  • Microscopy techniques to visualize mRNA localization and granule formation.
  • Analysis of mRNA colocalization within granules.
  • Investigation of granule behavior in different cellular conditions and mutant strains.

Main Results:

  • Several mRNAs localize to distinct granules in unstressed cells.
  • These granules are crucial for the stress-induced formation of P-bodies.
  • Specific glycolytic mRNAs colocalize in multiple granules per cell and aggregate during P-body formation.
  • Granule aggregation occurs even when P-bodies do not form.
  • In unstressed cells, mRNA granules are associated with active translation.

Conclusions:

  • mRNA granules in unstressed cells play a role in stress-dependent P-body formation.
  • The colocalization and aggregation of specific mRNAs in granules suggest a mechanism for coregulating protein expression.
  • This coregulation parallels the functional advantages of operons in prokaryotes.

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