Drosophila polypyrimidine tract-binding protein is necessary for spermatid individualization.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-13-2010
Abstract
Although mammalian polypyrimidine tract-binding (PTB) protein functions in most or all cell types to regulate a wide spectrum of transcripts, Drosophila PTB encodes an abundant male germline-specific mRNA isoform (dmPTB) whose expression correlates with male fertility. The biological function of this isoform is unknown. Using selection-amplification, we show that mammalian and Drosophila PTB have similar RNA sequence preference, suggesting that cell-specific expression rather than unique RNA-binding properties account for the sex-specific function of dmPTB. We also show that the dmPTB protein isoform expressed in the male germline is by far the most abundant isoform, and reduction of its levels correlates with male sterility. Finally, we show that dmPTB expression is necessary for proper spermatid individualization, the terminal step necessary for production of motile sperm. Loss of dmPTB results in severe disruption of the actin cones of the spermatid individualization complex. This represents a cytological defect resulting from PTB loss. We discuss the basis for functional differences between mammalian and Drosophila PTB orthologs.
Volume
107
Issue
28
First Page
12570
Last Page
12575
ISSN
1091-6490
Published In/Presented At
Robida, M., Sridharan, V., Morgan, S., Rao, T., & Singh, R. (2010). Drosophila polypyrimidine tract-binding protein is necessary for spermatid individualization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(28), 12570–12575. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007935107
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
20616016
Department(s)
Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article