Cytoplasmic Prep1 interacts with 4EHP inhibiting Hoxb4 translation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Homeobox genes are essential for embryonic patterning and cell fate determination. They are regulated mostly at the transcriptional level. In particular, Prep1 regulates Hox transcription in association with Pbx proteins. Despite its nuclear role as a transcription factor, Prep1 is located in the cytosol of mouse oocytes from primary to antral follicles. The homeodomain factor Bicoid (Bcd) has been shown to interact with 4EHP (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E homolog protein) to repress translation of Caudal mRNA and to drive Drosophila embryo development. Interestingly, Prep1 contains a putative binding motif for 4EHP, which may reflect a novel unknown function.

Methodology/principal findings

In this paper we show by confocal microscopy and deconvoluti

SUBMITTER: Villaescusa JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2664923 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature