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Localization of Germes RNA in Xenopus Oocytes

  • 80 YEARS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMBRYOLOGY, MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY
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Abstract

A Xenopus maternally expressed gene Germes, whose mRNA associates with germ plasm, has been previously identified. In the present study, the cis- and trans-acting factors that regulate the localization of Germes RNA within the developing oocyte have been characterized. Injection of fluorescently labeled RNA corresponding to various parts of the Germes message demonstrated that the sequence information necessary and sufficient for correct localization in the mitochondrial cloud region of the early oocyte is located in the 3'UTR. A domain rich in CAC motifs identified in the distal part of the 3'UTR was found to be sufficient to mediate RNA localization. Within this domain, one nonessential (a) and two essential (b and c) subdomains were identified. A 37-base region of the c subdomain adjacent to the poly(A) tail was found to be important for localization since its removal from several tested constructs abolished their localization capacity. Analysis of the 3'UTR sequence showed the presence of three different motifs for RNA localization in the oocyte.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful Evelyn Houliston (Sorbonne Université, Paris) for invaluable methodological assistance in the preparation and conduct of experiments.

Funding

The work was carried out within the framework of the State Research and Development Project no. 30-2-16 of Moscow State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    M. B. Ponomarev & A. V. Belyavsky

  2. Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    V. V. Konduktorova & N. N. Luchinskaya

Authors
  1. M. B. Ponomarev
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  2. V. V. Konduktorova
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  3. N. N. Luchinskaya
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  4. A. V. Belyavsky
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Contributions

A.V. Belyavsky and M.B. Ponomarev, planning of experiments; M.B. Ponomarev and V.V. Konduktorova, creation of constructs. All authors participated in the discussion of the results and preparation of the publication. M.B. Ponomarev and V.V. Konduktorova contributed equally to this study and to preparation of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. V. Konduktorova.

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Statement on the welfare of animals. When performing this study, all manipulations carried out with experimental animals, methods of anesthesia, and euthanasia were in accordance with international bioethics standards.

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Ponomarev, M.B., Konduktorova, V.V., Luchinskaya, N.N. et al. Localization of Germes RNA in Xenopus Oocytes. Russ J Dev Biol 52, 1–8 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062360421010057

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062360421010057

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