Fragile X mental retardation protein controls trailer hitch expression and cleavage furrow formation in Drosophila embryos.

ABSTRACT: During the cleavage stage of animal embryogenesis, cell numbers increase dramatically without growth, and a shift from maternal to zygotic genetic control occurs called the midblastula transition. Although these processes are fundamental to animal development, the molecular mechanisms controlling them are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein (dFMRP) is required for cleavage furrow formation and functions within dynamic cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) bodies during the midblastula transition. dFMRP is observed to colocalize with the cytoplasmic RNP body components Maternal expression at 31B (ME31B) and Trailer Hitch (TRAL) in a punctate pattern throughout the cytoplasm of cleavage-stage embryos. Complementary biochemistry demonstra

SUBMITTER: Monzo K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1838723 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature