Steffens A, Jaegle B, Tresch A, Huelskamp M, Jakoby M

Processing bodies (P-bodies) are cytoplasmic RNA protein aggregates responsible for storage, degradation and quality control of translationally repressed mRNAs in eukaryotic cells. In mammals, P-body related RNA and protein exchanges are actomyosin dependent, whereas P-body movement requires intact microtubules. In contrast, in plants P-body motility is actin based. In this ...

Read More

study we show the direct interaction of the P-body core component DECAPPING PROTEIN 1 (DCP1) with the tails of different unconventional myosins in Arabidopsis thaliana. By performing co-expression studies with AtDCP1, dominant negative myosin fragments as well as functional full-length myosin XI-K, the association of P-bodies and myosins was analyzed in detail. Finally, the combination of mutant analyzes and characterization of P-body movement patterns showed that myosin XI-K is essential for fast and directed P-body transport. Together our data indicate that P-body movement in plants is governed by myosin XI members through direct binding to AtDCP1 rather than through an adapter protein as known for membrane coated organelles. Inter- and intraspecies interaction approaches with mammalian and yeast protein homologs suggest that this mechanism is evolutionarily conserved among eukaryotes.

Date: Feb. 13, 2014

View in: Pubmed Google Scholar

162675