Potential structural role of non-coding and coding RNAs in the organization of the cytoskeleton at the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes

Malgorzata Kloc, Katarzyna Wilk, Diana Vargas, Yuri Shirato, Szczepan Bilinski, Laurence D. Etkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus citations

Abstract

The localization of RNA within a cell or embryo is crucial for proper cellular function or development. There is evidence that the cytoskeleton and RNA may function in the anchoring of localized RNAs at the vegetal cortex of Xenopus laevis oocytes. We found that the organization of the cytokeratin filaments but not the actin cytoskeleton depends on the presence of intact VegT mRNA and a noncoding RNA, Xlsirts. Destruction of either of these transcripts results in disruption of the cytokeratin cytoskeleton in a transcript-specific manner and interferes with proper formation of the germinal granules and subsequent development of the germline. Analysis of the distribution of endogenous VegT and Xlsirts in live oocytes using molecular beacons showed that these RNAs are integrated into the cytokeratin cytoskeleton. These results demonstrate a novel structural role of coding and noncoding RNAs in the organization of the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3445-3457
Number of pages13
JournalDevelopment
Volume132
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005

Keywords

  • Cytokeratin
  • Germ plasm
  • Localized RNA
  • Structural role of RNA
  • Xenopus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Cell Biology

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