Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2025
08:12
Single-step Purification of Macromolecular Complexes Using RNA Attached to Biotin and a Photo-cleavable Linker
Published on: January 3, 2019
7.2K
Maternal histone mRNAs are uniquely processed through polyadenylation in a Stem-Loop Binding Protein (SLBP) dependent
Juan Pérez-Roldán1,2, László Henn3, Jordi Bernués1,2
1Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Baldiri Reixac, 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Nucleic Acids Research
|April 16, 2025
Summary
Maternal histone mRNAs in Drosophila embryos are unexpectedly polyadenylated and stabilized by Wisp for translation. Their expression is activated by the loss of linker histone dBigH1, impacting chromatin assembly and causing DNA damage.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Early embryogenesis relies on maternal products due to zygotic genome transcriptional silence.
- Maternally deposited histones are vital for chromatin integrity during rapid nuclear division.
- Histone mRNAs are typically nonpolyadenylated with a conserved 3'UTR stem-loop for processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the unexpected polyadenylation and 3'-end processing of maternal histone mRNAs.
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms and factors involved in maternal histone mRNA metabolism.
- To understand the translational control of maternal histone mRNAs during early development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of maternal histone mRNA 3'-end structures and polyadenylation.
- Investigating the roles of Stem-Loop Binding Protein (SLBP) and U7 snRNP in processing.
- Assessing the impact of cytoplasmic poly(A) tail elongation by Wisp on mRNA stability and translation.
- Examining translational activation of histone mRNAs in response to the loss of linker histone dBigH1.
Main Results:
- Maternal histone mRNAs exhibit noncanonical 3'-end processing with polyadenylation and truncated 3' stem-loops.
- This processing requires SLBP but not U7 snRNP during oogenesis.
- Wisp mediates cytoplasmic poly(A) tail elongation, stabilizing maternal histone mRNAs for translation.
- Maternal histone mRNA translation is quiescent until activated by dBigH1 loss, which causes chromatin defects and DNA damage.
Conclusions:
- Maternal histone mRNAs possess a unique, regulated 3'-end processing and translation mechanism.
- This mechanism ensures appropriate histone supply for early embryonic development, particularly under stress conditions.
- The findings reveal a novel layer of post-transcriptional regulation critical for maintaining genomic integrity.
Related Concept Videos
02:41Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
6.8K
In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
The chromatin structure, especially...
6.8K
02:51mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
5.5K
The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
5.5K
01:35Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
9.1K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
9.1K
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
21.9K
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
21.9K
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
52.4K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
52.4K
01:23Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
848
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
848