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Molecular and Cellular Biology, December 2006, p. 9508-9516, Vol. 26, No. 24
0270-7306/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.01136-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Imp Associates with Squid and Hrp48 and Contributes to Localized Expression of gurken in the Oocyte ^,

Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-0159

Received 23 June 2006/ Returned for modification 24 July 2006/ Accepted 21 September 2006

Localization and translational control of Drosophila melanogaster gurken and oskar mRNAs rely on the hnRNP proteins Squid and Hrp48, which are complexed with one another in the ovary. Imp, the Drosophila homolog of proteins acting in localization of mRNAs in other species, is also associated with Squid and Hrp48. Notably, Imp is concentrated at sites of gurken and oskar mRNA localization in the oocyte, and alteration of gurken localization also alters Imp distribution. Imp binds gurken mRNA with high affinity in vitro; thus, the colocalization with gurken mRNA in vivo is likely to be the result of direct binding. Imp mutants support apparently normal regulation of gurken and oskar mRNAs. However, loss of Imp activity partially suppresses a gurken misexpression phenotype, indicating that Imp does act in control of gurken expression but has a largely redundant role that is only revealed when normal gurken expression is perturbed. Overexpression of Imp disrupts localization of gurken mRNA as well as localization and translational regulation of oskar mRNA. The opposing effects of reduced and elevated Imp activity on gurken mRNA expression indicate a role in gurken mRNA regulation.

Published ahead of print on 9 October 2006.

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