PUBLICATION

Localization of transcripts of the zebrafish morphogen Squint is dependent on egg activation and the microtubule cytoskeleton

Authors
Gore, A.V., and Sampath, K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-020220-7
Date
2002
Source
Mechanisms of Development   112(1-2): 153-156 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Gore, Aniket, Sampath, Karuna
Keywords
zebrafish; RNA localization; nodal-related; squint; morphogen; maternal transcripts; actin; microtubules; egg activation; oogenesis
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
  • Cytoskeleton/metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton/ultrastructure*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microtubules/ultrastructure*
  • Nodal Signaling Ligands
  • Ovum/ultrastructure
  • RNA/metabolism
  • Thiazoles/pharmacology
  • Thiazolidines
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
PubMed
11850186 Full text @ Mech. Dev.
Abstract
The generation of polarity and patterning in multicellular organisms depends in part on the asymmetric localization of molecules to specific subdomains within a cell. Localized transcripts for several molecules are known to be required for patterning oocytes and embryos in Drosophila as well as Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we describe the localization of transcripts encoding the nodal-related morphogen, Squint (sqt), in zebrafish oocytes and early embryos, and the mechanisms by which sqt RNA is localized. sqt transcripts are uniformly distributed in oocytes through all stages of oogenesis. Upon egg activation, sqt RNA is localized to the blastoderm, and excluded from the yolk cell. The mechanism of sqt RNA transport was examined using cytoskeletal inhibitors. Disruption of actin microfilaments by treatment with latrunculin A does not alter the localization of sqt RNA to the blastoderm. However, disruption of the microtubule cytoskeleton by treatment with nocodazole affects sqt RNA localization. These results indicate that sqt transcripts are translocated by an RNA localization pathway which is initiated upon egg activation, and that sqt RNA localization through this pathway is mediated via the microtubule cytoskeleton.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping