The Ski2-family helicase Obelus regulates Crumbs alternative splicing and cell polarity.

ABSTRACT: Alternative splicing can have profound consequences for protein activity, but the functions of most alternative splicing regulators are not known. We show that Obelus, a conserved Ski2-family helicase, is required for cell polarity and adherens junction organization in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo. In obelus mutants, epithelial cells display an expanded apical domain, aggregation of adherens junctions at the cell membrane, and microtubule-dependent defects in centrosome positioning. Through whole-genome transcriptome analysis, we found that Obelus is required for the alternative splicing of a small number of transcripts in the early embryo, including the pre-mRNA that encodes the apical polarity protein Crumbs. In obelus mutants, inclusion of an alternative exon results in increased

SUBMITTER: Vichas A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4674277 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature