Staufen (protein)

Last updated
Maternal effect protein staufen
Identifiers
Organism Drosophila melanogaster
Symbolstau
UniProt P25159

Staufen is a protein product of a maternally expressed gene first identified in Drosophila melanogaster. The protein has been implicated in helping regulate genes important in determination of gradients that set up the anterior posterior axis such as bicoid and oskar. Staufen proteins, abbreviated Stau, are necessary for cell localization during the oogenesis and zygotic development. [1] It is involved in targeting of the messenger RNA encoding these genes to the correct pole of the egg cell. [2] [3]

Contents

Human homologs of this protein include STAU1 and STAU2.

Forms

Staufen proteins are categorized under a family of double stranded RNA-binding proteins. [4] Many homologs of Staufen proteins exist depending on the organism. The mammalian homologs of Staufen include STAU1 and STAU2. [5] The gene encoding the STAU1 protein is found along the long arm of chromosome 20, while the gene encoding STAU2 is found on chromosome 8. [6] These proteins are identified by the presence of double-stranded RNA binding domains (dsRNA- binding domains), which functions to bind the protein to double-stranded secondary structure RNAs. [7] These two orthologues are produced in several different isoforms following pre mRNA splicing. [5] STAU1 is predominantly expressed in most cell types, while STAU2 is conserved the brain, with low level expression in other cell tissues. [5]

Localization of Staufen (Stau:GFP) in Drosophila stage 9 oocytes (white arrow). Stauffen Yu etal.png
Localization of Staufen (Stau:GFP) in Drosophila stage 9 oocytes (white arrow).

Functions

Staufen proteins are encoded and produced very early in oogenesis. At the primary stages of oogenesis, Staufen mRNA is evenly disbursed throughout the cytoplasm of the cell. [8] As the oocyte develops, the proteins condense at the anterior margins and the posterior pole of the egg cell. [8] In Drosophila the proteins are necessary for the translating and transporting oskar mRNA to the posterior pole of the oocyte. [6] Similarly Staufen proteins are also part of a multistep process that localizes Bicoid mRNA to the anterior end of the early embryo, and these proteins are also responsible for asymmetric dispersion of prospero mRNA as the embryonic neuroblast divides. [9] [6]

In mammals, the STAU proteins contain a microtubule-binding domain, giving the protein the capability to bind to Tubulin. Research has also shown that these proteins maintain an association with the Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), suggesting that transport of mRNA through the use of Staufen proteins is facilitated via the microtubule network to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. [7]

Related Research Articles

An oocyte, oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell (PGC), which then undergoes mitosis, forming oogonia. During oogenesis, the oogonia become primary oocytes. An oocyte is a form of genetic material that can be collected for cryoconservation.

<i>Drosophila</i> embryogenesis Embryogenesis of the fruit fly Drosophila, a popular model system

Drosophila embryogenesis, the process by which Drosophila embryos form, is a favorite model system for genetics and developmental biology. The study of its embryogenesis unlocked the century-long puzzle of how development was controlled, creating the field of evolutionary developmental biology. The small size, short generation time, and large brood size make it ideal for genetic studies. Transparent embryos facilitate developmental studies. Drosophila melanogaster was introduced into the field of genetic experiments by Thomas Hunt Morgan in 1909.

RNA-binding proteins are proteins that bind to the double or single stranded RNA in cells and participate in forming ribonucleoprotein complexes. RBPs contain various structural motifs, such as RNA recognition motif (RRM), dsRNA binding domain, zinc finger and others. They are cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. However, since most mature RNA is exported from the nucleus relatively quickly, most RBPs in the nucleus exist as complexes of protein and pre-mRNA called heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNPs). RBPs have crucial roles in various cellular processes such as: cellular function, transport and localization. They especially play a major role in post-transcriptional control of RNAs, such as: splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stabilization, mRNA localization and translation. Eukaryotic cells express diverse RBPs with unique RNA-binding activity and protein–protein interaction. According to the Eukaryotic RBP Database (EuRBPDB), there are 2961 genes encoding RBPs in humans. During evolution, the diversity of RBPs greatly increased with the increase in the number of introns. Diversity enabled eukaryotic cells to utilize RNA exons in various arrangements, giving rise to a unique RNP (ribonucleoprotein) for each RNA. Although RBPs have a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation in gene expression, relatively few RBPs have been studied systematically.

The border cells of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are a cluster of 6–8 migratory cells found in the fly's ovary and derived from the follicular epithelium.

<i>Krüppel</i>

Krüppel is a gap gene in Drosophila melanogaster, located on the 2R chromosome, which encodes a zinc finger C2H2 transcription factor. Gap genes work together to establish the anterior-posterior segment patterning of the insect through regulation of the transcription factor encoding pair rule genes. These genes in turn regulate segment polarity genes. Krüppel means "cripple" in German, named for the crippled appearance of mutant larvae, who have failed to develop proper thoracic and anterior segments in the abdominal region. Mutants can also have abdominal mirror duplications.

In the field of developmental biology, regional differentiation is the process by which different areas are identified in the development of the early embryo. The process by which the cells become specified differs between organisms.

Bicoid 3′-UTR regulatory element

The bicoid 3′-UTR regulatory element is an mRNA regulatory element that controls the gene expression of the bicoid protein in fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster.

oskar is a gene required for the development of the Drosophila embryo. It defines the posterior pole during early embryogenesis. Its two isoforms, short and long, play different roles in Drosophila embryonic development. oskar was named after the main character from the Günter Grass novel The Tin Drum, who refuses to grow up.

Gurken localisation signal

mRNA localization is a common mode of posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression that targets a protein to its site of function. Proteins are highly dependent on cellular environments for stability and function, therefore, mRNA localization signals are crucial for maintaining protein function. The Gurken localisation signal is an RNA regulatory element conserved across many species of Drosophila. The element consists of an RNA stem loop within the coding region of the messenger RNA that forms a signal for dynein-mediated Gurken mRNA transport to the dorsoanterior cap near the nucleus of the oocyte.

STAU1

Double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STAU1 gene.

MAGOH Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Protein mago nashi homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MAGOH gene.

FLII

Protein flightless-1 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLII gene.

DNAJB11

DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DNAJB11 gene.

ZW10

Centromere/kinetochore protein zw10 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZW10 gene. This gene encodes a protein that is one of many involved in mechanisms to ensure proper chromosome segregation during cell division. The encoded protein binds to centromeres during the prophase, metaphase, and early anaphase cell division stages and to kinetochore microtubules during metaphase.

RRBP1

Ribosome-binding protein 1, also referred to as p180, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RRBP1 gene.

STAU2 Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STAU2 gene.

Vasa is an RNA binding protein with an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that is a member of the DEAD box family of proteins. The vasa gene is essential for germ cell development and was first identified in Drosophila melanogaster, but has since been found to be conserved in a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates including humans. The Vasa protein is found primarily in germ cells in embryos and adults, where it is involved in germ cell determination and function, as well as in multipotent stem cells, where its exact function is unknown.

The XMAP215/Dis1 family is a highly conserved group of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in eukaryotic organisms. These proteins are unique MAPs because they primarily interact with the growing-end (plus-end) of microtubules. This special property classifies this protein family as plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs).

The gene Maelstrom, Mael, creates a protein, which was first located in Drosophila melanogaster in the nuage perinuclear structure and has functionality analogous to the spindle, spn, gene class. Its mamallian homolog is MAEL.

<i>Homeotic protein bicoid</i> Protein-coding gene in the species Drosophila melanogaster

Homeotic protein bicoid is encoded by the bcd maternal effect gene in Drosophilia. Homeotic protein bicoid concentration gradient patterns the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis during Drosophila embryogenesis. Bicoid was the first protein demonstrated to act as a morphogen. Although bicoid is important for the development of Drosophila and other higher dipterans, it is absent from most other insects, where its role is accomplished by other genes.

References

  1. ↑ "Society for Developmental Biology | Home". www.sdbonline.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  2. ↑ Martin KC, Ephrussi A (February 2009). "mRNA Localization: Gene Expression in the Spatial Dimension". Cell. 136 (4): 719–30. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2009.01.044. PMC   2819924 . PMID   19239891.
  3. ↑ Houchmandzadeh B, Wieschaus E, Leibler S (February 2002). "Establishment of developmental precision and proportions in the early Drosophila embryo". Nature. 415 (6873): 798–802. doi:10.1038/415798a. PMID   11845210. S2CID   4386630.
  4. ↑ Almasi S, Jasmin BJ (December 2021). "The multifunctional RNA-binding protein Staufen1: an emerging regulator of oncogenesis through its various roles in key cellular events". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 78 (23): 7145–7160. doi:10.1007/s00018-021-03965-w. PMC   8629789 . PMID   34633481.
  5. 1 2 3 Heraud-Farlow JE, Kiebler MA (September 2014). "The multifunctional Staufen proteins: conserved roles from neurogenesis to synaptic plasticity". Trends in Neurosciences. 37 (9): 470–479. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2014.05.009. PMC   4156307 . PMID   25012293.
  6. 1 2 3 Laver JD, Li X, Ancevicius K, Westwood JT, Smibert CA, Morris QD, Lipshitz HD (November 2013). "Genome-wide analysis of Staufen-associated mRNAs identifies secondary structures that confer target specificity". Nucleic Acids Research. 41 (20): 9438–9460. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt702. PMC   3814352 . PMID   23945942.
  7. 1 2 "STAU1 staufen double-stranded RNA binding protein 1 [Homo sapiens (human)] - Gene - NCBI". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  8. 1 2 "Staufen". www.sdbonline.org. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  9. ↑ "Staufen". www.sdbonline.org. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.