RNA Transport and Localization

细胞的行为和命运由它们表达的蛋白质以及这些蛋白质在细胞内的分布来指定。蛋白质靶向特定亚细胞位点的一种方式是通过其相应mRNA的定位。与mRNA代谢的其他方面一样，定位由特定的RNA-蛋白质识别事件控制。本研究旨在探讨果蝇卵母细胞中介导mRNA定位的RNA-蛋白质识别事件。它集中在K10 mRNA，这是一个相对较大的一类mRNA（约30个成员）的代表，在卵巢护士细胞合成，并选择性地运输到卵母细胞在卵子发生的早期阶段。以前的研究已经确定了一个小的序列元件，称为TLS（运输/定位序列），这是必需的，足以为K10 mRNA定位。目前的建议的具体目标是：（1）精确定义TLS的结构特征，这是其体内定位活性所需的，（2）确定TLS的活性是否受到其在mRNA中的位置的影响，（3）识别和表征结合TLS的蛋白质。

The behaviors and fates of cells are specified by the proteins they express and by the distribution of those proteins within the cell. One way that proteins are targeted to specific subcellular sites is via the localization of their corresponding mRNAs. Like other aspects of mRNA metabolism, localization is governed by specific RNA-protein recognition events. This proposal seeks to investigate the RNA-protein recognition events that mediate mRNA localization in Drosophila oocytes. It focuses on K10 mRNA, which is representative of a relatively large class of mRNAs (~30 members) that are synthesized in ovarian nurse cells and selectively transported into the oocyte during early stages of oogenesis. Previous studies have identified a small sequence element, called the TLS (transport/localization sequence), that is required and sufficient for K10 mRNA localization. The specific aims of the current proposal are: (1) To define precisely the structural features of the TLS that are required for its in vivo localization activity, (2) To determine whether the activity of the TLS is affected by its position in the mRNA, and (3) To identify and characterize proteins that bind the TLS.