biostudies-literatureUnknown28(22)Semotok JLSMAUG (SMG) is an RNA-binding protein that functions as a key component of a transcript degradation pathway that eliminates maternal mRNAs in the bulk cytoplasm of activated Drosophila melanogaster eggs. We previously showed that SMG destabilizes maternal Hsp83 mRNA by recruiting the CCR4-NOT deadenylase to trigger decay; however, the cis-acting elements through which this was accomplished were unknown. Here we show that Hsp83 transcript degradation is regulated by a major element, the Hsp83 mRNA instability element (HIE), which maps to a 615-nucleotide region of the open reading frame (ORF). The HIE is sufficient for association of a transgenic mRNA with SMG protein as well as for SMG-dependent destabilization. Although the Hsp83 mRNA is translated in the early embryo, we show that translMolecular and cellular biology6757-72https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2573300biostudies-literatureDrosophila maternal Hsp83 mRNA destabilization is directed by multiple SMAUG recognition elements in the open reading frame.PMC2573300Semotok JLCooperstock RLVari HKLuo HSmibert CAKaraiskakis ALipshitz HDfalseDrosophila maternal Hsp83 mRNA destabilization is directed by multiple SMAUG recognition elements in the open reading frame.SMAUG (SMG) is an RNA-binding protein that functions as a key component of a transcript degradation pathway that eliminates maternal mRNAs in the bulk cytoplasm of activated Drosophila melanogaster eggs. We previously showed that SMG destabilizes maternal Hsp83 mRNA by recruiting the CCR4-NOT deadenylase to trigger decay; however, the cis-acting elements through which this was accomplished were unknown. Here we show that Hsp83 transcript degradation is regulated by a major element, the Hsp83 mRNA instability element (HIE), which maps to a 615-nucleotide region of the open reading frame (ORF). The HIE is sufficient for association of a transgenic mRNA with SMG protein as well as for SMG-dependent destabilization. Although the Hsp83 mRNA is translated in the early embryo, we show that transl2008-01-01T00:00:00Z2008 Nov2025-04-05T15:59:14.934Z2019-03-27T00:19:04ZS-EPMC25733001879436010.1128/MCB.00037-0810.1128/mcb.00037-08