Title Information
Title
Insights into Directional Motor-Driven RNA Localization from the Xenopus Oocyte
Name: Personal
Name Part
Gagnon, James A
Role
Role Term: Text
creator
Origin Information
Copyright Date
2011
Physical Description
Extent
x, 222 p.
digitalOrigin
born digital
Note
Thesis (Ph.D. -- Brown University (2011)
Name: Personal
Name Part
Mowry, Kimberly
Role
Role Term: Text
Director
Name: Personal
Name Part
Johnson, Mark
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
McKeown, Mike
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Dahlberg, Albert
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Singer, Robert
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Corporate
Name Part
Brown University. BIOMED: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry
Role
Role Term: Text
sponsor
Genre (aat)
theses
Abstract
RNA localization is a widely conserved mechanism for generating cellular asymmetry. In Xenopus oocytes, microtubule-dependent transport of RNAs to the vegetal cortex underlies germ layer patterning. However, the mechanisms that control transport and directionality during asymmetric RNA transport are not yet clear. We have analyzed the participation of kinesin and dynein motors in vegetal RNA transport and identified a direct role for kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein. Moreover, in vivo interference and biochemical experiments reveal a key function for multiple motors, specifically kinesin-1, kinesin-2 and cytoplasmic dynein, and suggest that these motors may interact during transport. Critically, we have discovered a sub-population of microtubules with plus ends at the vegetal cortex, supporting roles for these kinesin motors in vegetal RNA transport. Using a novel approach to measure directionality of mRNA transport in live oocytes, we observe discrete domains of unidirectional and bidirectional transport that are dependent on distinct molecular motors. Specifically, both dynein and kinesin motors mediate steps in the vegetal RNA transport pathway, with dynein acting prior to kinesin. Moreover, dynein, but not kinesin-1, promotes unidirectional transport of RNA towards the vegetal cortex. Thus, vegetal RNA transport occurs through a multi-step pathway, providing a new framework for understanding the mechanistic basis of cell polarity.
Subject
Topic
Molecular Motors
Subject
Topic
RNA Localization
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/891773")
Topic
Developmental biology
Record Information
Record Content Source (marcorg)
RPB
Record Creation Date (encoding="iso8601")
20111003
Language
Language Term: Code (ISO639-2B)
eng
Language Term: Text
English
Identifier: DOI
10.7301/Z0B27SJ6
Access Condition: rights statement (href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/")
In Copyright
Access Condition: restriction on access
Collection is open for research.
Type of Resource (primo)
dissertations