Localization of mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA in germ plasm of Xenopus embryos.
Curr Biol
; 8(20): 1117-20, 1998 Oct 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9778528
ABSTRACT
In Xenopus, factors with the ability to establish the germ line are localized in the vegetal pole cytoplasm, or germ plasm, of the early embryo [1-3]. The germ plasm of Xenopus, and of many other animal species including Drosophila, contains electron-dense germinal granules which may be essential for germ-line formation [4-5]. Several components of the germinal granules have so far been identified in Drosophila [6-10]. One of these is mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA (mtlrRNA), which is present in the germinal granules (polar granules) during the cleavage stage until the formation of the germ-line progenitors or pole cells [8-9]. MtlrRNA has been identified as a factor that induces pole cells in embryos that have been sterilized by ultraviolet radiation [11]. The reduction of mtlrRNA in germ plasm by injecting anti-mtlrRNA ribozymes into embryos leads to the inability of these embryos to form pole cells [12]. These observations clearly show that mtlrRNA is essential for pole cell formation in Drosophila. Here, we report that mtlrRNA is enriched in germ plasm of Xenopus embryos from the four-cell stage to the blastula. Furthermore, our electron microscopic studies show that this mtlrRNA is present in the germinal granules during these stages. Thus, mtlrRNA is a common component of germinal granules in Drosophila and Xenopus, suggesting that the mtlrRNA has a role in germ-line development across phylogenetic boundaries.
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Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
RNA
/
RNA Ribossômico
/
Mitocôndrias
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Curr Biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
1998
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão