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Dicer-2 promotes mRNA activation through cytoplasmic polyadenylation
Olga Coll1,2, Tanit Guitart1,2, Ana Villalba1,2
1Gene Regulation, Stem Cells and Cancer Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003-Barcelona, Spain.
RNA (New York, N.Y.)
|January 11, 2018
Summary
Dicer-2, a protein known for RNA interference, also activates mRNA translation in fruit flies by aiding cytoplasmic polyadenylation. This process is crucial for Toll mRNA translation and involves the Wispy protein.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cytoplasmic polyadenylation regulates mRNA translation via specific sequence elements in vertebrates.
- In *Drosophila melanogaster*, the mechanism for cytoplasmic polyadenylation, particularly for Toll mRNA, differs from the canonical vertebrate model and involves unknown factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the machinery responsible for cytoplasmic polyadenylation of Toll mRNA in *Drosophila melanogaster*.
- To elucidate the novel roles of Dicer-2 in mRNA translation regulation.
Main Methods:
- Identification of Dicer-2 as a component of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation machinery.
- Biochemical interaction studies between Dicer-2 and the cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase Wispy.
- Functional analysis using Dicer-2-depleted embryo extracts and *wispy* mutants.
Main Results:
- Dicer-2 interacts with Wispy and is essential for the polyadenylation and translation of Toll mRNA.
- Depletion of Dicer-2 impairs Toll mRNA polyadenylation and translation.
- *r2d2* mRNA, encoding a Dicer-2 partner, is identified as a target for Dicer-2-mediated polyadenylation.
Conclusions:
- Dicer-2 plays a novel role in activating mRNA translation through cytoplasmic polyadenylation in *Drosophila melanogaster*.
- This study reveals a new function for Dicer-2 beyond its established role in RNA interference.
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