Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

PAR-CliP - A Method to Identify Transcriptome-wide the Binding Sites of RNA Binding Proteins
Published on: July 2, 2010
A Secreted RNA Binding Protein Forms RNA-Stabilizing Granules in the Honeybee Royal Jelly
Eyal Maori1, Isabela Cunha Navarro1, Humberto Boncristiani2
1The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.
Abstract:
RNA flow between organisms has been documented within and among different kingdoms of life. Recently, we demonstrated horizontal RNA transfer between honeybees involving secretion and ingestion of worker and royal jellies. However, how the jelly facilitates transfer of RNA is still unknown. Here, we show that worker and royal jellies harbor robust RNA-binding activity. We report that a highly abundant jelly component, major royal jelly protein 3 (MRJP-3), acts as an extracellular non-sequence-specific RNA-aggregating factor. Multivalent RNA binding stimulates higher-order assembly of MRJP-3 into extracellular ribonucleoprotein granules that protect RNA from degradation and enhance RNA bioavailability. These findings reveal that honeybees have evolved a secreted dietary RNA-binding factor to concentrate, stabilize, and share RNA among individuals. Our work identifies high-order ribonucleoprotein assemblies with functions outside cells and organisms.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Stability
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
RNA Splicing
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...

