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Buc Maintains Maternal RNA Stability and Embryogenesis in Zebrafish
Ran Miao1, Yan Xie1, Qingqing Han1
1Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Cells
|December 10, 2025
Summary
Bucky ball (Buc) protein stabilizes maternal mRNA during zebrafish development. Buc safeguards mRNA integrity, ensuring proper embryonic development through the maternal-to-zygotic transition.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is crucial for early vertebrate embryogenesis.
- Maternal mRNA clearance and zygotic genome activation are key events during MZT.
- Germ plasm (GP) factors regulate maternal mRNA stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Bucky ball (Buc), a zebrafish GP organizer, in maternal mRNA stability.
- To determine if Buc protects maternal mRNAs from degradation during early embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Overexpression of the buc gene in zebrafish embryos.
- Generation of buc knockout zebrafish.
- Analysis of maternal mRNA degradation rates.
- Assessment of embryonic developmental phenotypes.
- Investigation of downstream targets, including Igf2bp3 expression.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of buc delayed maternal mRNA degradation and embryonic development.
- buc knockout led to accelerated maternal mRNA degradation and severe developmental defects.
- Buc regulates maternal mRNA stability via the expression of RNA-binding protein Igf2bp3.
Conclusions:
- Buc stabilizes maternal mRNAs in coordination with Igf2bp3 during the MZT.
- Buc plays a critical role in maintaining maternal mRNA integrity for proper embryonic development.
- The function of Buc extends beyond GP assembly to safeguarding maternal mRNA.
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