Article
- The EMBO Journal (2005) 24, 2656 - 2666
- doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600738
Published online: 7 July 2005
Subject Categories:
The DAZL family proteins are PABP-binding proteins that regulate translation in germ cells
Brian Collier1, Barbara Gorgoni1, Carolyn Loveridge1, Howard J Cooke1 and Nicola K Gray1
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Correspondence to:
Nicola K Gray, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Scotland, UK. Tel.: +44 131 3322471; Fax: +44 131 4678456; E-mail: nicola.gray@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
Received 31 January 2005; Accepted 10 June 2005
Abstract
DAZL proteins are germ-cell-specific RNA-binding proteins essential for gametogenesis. The precise molecular role of these proteins in germ-cell development remains enigmatic; however, they appear to function in the cytoplasm. In order to directly address the function of vertebrate DAZL proteins, we have used Xenopus laevis oocytes as a model system. Here we demonstrate that members of this family, including Xdazl, mouse Dazl, human DAZL, human DAZ and human BOULE, have the ability to stimulate translation and function at the level of translation initiation. We show that DAZL proteins interact with poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs), which are critical for the initiation of translation. Mapping and tethered function experiments suggest that these interactions are physiologically important. This leads to an attractive hypothesis whereby DAZL proteins activate translationally silent mRNAs during germ cell development through the direct recruitment of PABPs.
Keywords:
- ePABP,
- gametogenesis,
- poly(A) tail,
- RNA-binding proteins,
- translational regulation
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