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Drosophila germ granules are structured and contain homotypic mRNA clusters

Author

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  • Tatjana Trcek

    (HHMI, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU School of Medicine)

  • Markus Grosch

    (HHMI, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU School of Medicine)

  • Andrew York

    (Section on High Resolution Optical Imaging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH)

  • Hari Shroff

    (Section on High Resolution Optical Imaging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH)

  • Timothée Lionnet

    (Transcription Imaging Consortium, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

  • Ruth Lehmann

    (HHMI, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU School of Medicine)

Abstract

Germ granules, specialized ribonucleoprotein particles, are a hallmark of all germ cells. In Drosophila, an estimated 200 mRNAs are enriched in the germ plasm, and some of these have important, often conserved roles in germ cell formation, specification, survival and migration. How mRNAs are spatially distributed within a germ granule and whether their position defines functional properties is unclear. Here we show, using single-molecule FISH and structured illumination microscopy, a super-resolution approach, that mRNAs are spatially organized within the granule whereas core germ plasm proteins are distributed evenly throughout the granule. Multiple copies of single mRNAs organize into ‘homotypic clusters’ that occupy defined positions within the center or periphery of the granule. This organization, which is maintained during embryogenesis and independent of the translational or degradation activity of mRNAs, reveals new regulatory mechanisms for germ plasm mRNAs that may be applicable to other mRNA granules.

Suggested Citation

  • Tatjana Trcek & Markus Grosch & Andrew York & Hari Shroff & Timothée Lionnet & Ruth Lehmann, 2015. "Drosophila germ granules are structured and contain homotypic mRNA clusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8962
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8962
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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Ramat & Ali Haidar & Céline Garret & Martine Simonelig, 2024. "Spatial organization of translation and translational repression in two phases of germ granules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.

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