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Staufen-dependent localization of prospero mRNA contributes to neuroblast daughter-cell fate

Nature volume 391, pages 792–795 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

The generation of cellular diversity is essential in embryogenesis, especially in the central nervous system. During neurogenesis, cell interactions or asymmetric protein localization during mitosis can generate daughter cells with different fates1,2,3,4. Here we describe the asymmetric localization of a messenger RNA and an RNA-binding protein that creates molecular and developmental differences between Drosophila neural precursors (neuroblasts) and their daughter cells, ganglion mother cells (GMCs). The prospero (pros) mRNA and the RNA-binding protein Staufen (Stau) are asymmetrically localized in mitotic neuroblasts and are specifically partitioned into the GMC, as is Pros protein5,6,7. Stau is required for localization of pros RNA but not of Pros protein. Loss of localization of Stau or of pros RNA alters GMC development, but only in embryos with reduced levels of Pros protein, suggesting that pros RNA and Pros protein act redundantly to specify GMC fate. We also find that GMCs do not transcribe the pros gene, showing that inheritance of pros RNA and/or Pros protein from the neuroblast is essential for GMC specification.

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Figure 1: Asymmetric localization of pros RNA in neuroblasts requires Stau but not microtubules.
Figure 2: Asymmetric localization of Stau and Pros proteins in neuroblasts.
Figure 3: pros is transcribed in neuroblasts but not GMCs.
Figure 4: Localization and function of Stau and pros RNA in neuroblasts.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C.-Y. Peng for help with genetics; C.-Y. Peng, F. Matsuzaki and B. Chia for sharing unpublished results; D. St Johnston for Stau antiserum; E. Spana for pros intron DNA; and C.Thummel and F. Gertler for comments. This work was supported by an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to S.F. and by the HHMI, of which C.Q.D. is an associate investigator.

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  1. Chris Q. Doe: These authors contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Department of Cell & Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, 61801, Illinois, USA

    Julie Broadus, Sal Fuerstenberg & Chris Q. Doe

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Broadus, J., Fuerstenberg, S. & Doe, C. Staufen-dependent localization of prospero mRNA contributes to neuroblast daughter-cell fate. Nature 391, 792–795 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/35861

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