Insights into Maternal mRNA Localization: Characterization of a New Cytoplasmic RNA GranuleNeil, Christopher RichercreatorJohnson, MarkReaderLarschan, EricaReaderFallon, JustinReaderMowry, KimberlyAdvisorMarlow, FlorenceReaderBrown University. Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistrysponsor2019xiv, 180 p.born digitalThesis (Ph. D.)--Brown University, 2019thesesCytoplasmic mRNA localization is understood as an important biological strategy for establishing cell and developmental polarity in a variety of organisms and cell types. In diverse examples including oocytes, fibroblasts and neurons, mRNA localization results in spatially restricted gene expression through local protein synthesis. In Xenopus laevis oocytes, maternal mRNAs are transported to the vegetal hemisphere of developing oocytes where their local translation is critical for proper embryonic patterning. Motor-based vegetal transport of such mRNAs relies on the assembly of RNP transport cargos, a conserved feature of RNA localization pathways. However, the molecular and physical nature of these structures, or other transport RNP cargos, remains as yet unknown. Using both biochemical purification and in vivo and fixed cell imaging techniques, this work characterizes vegetal transport RNPs as multiphase structures that represent a new class of cytoplasmic RNP granule, bearing both compositional and functional overlap with an expanding set of phase separated RNP granules that function in post-transcriptional gene regulation.Molecular biologyBiochemistryRNAEnglishRPB2019060310.26300/5n9p-2m09In CopyrightCollection is open for research.dissertations