Poly(A)-tail profiling reveals an embryonic switch in translational control
Open/View files
Date
2014
Author(s)
Eichhorn, Stephen W.
Chen, Grace R.
Sive, Hazel
Bartel, David P.
The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you.
Citation
Subtelny, Alexander O., Stephen W. Eichhorn, Grace R. Chen, Hazel Sive, and David P. Bartel. 2014. “Poly(A)-tail profiling reveals an embryonic switch in translational control.” Nature 508 (7494): 66-71. doi:10.1038/nature13007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13007.
Abstract
Poly(A) tails enhance the stability and translation of most eukaryotic mRNAs, but difficulties in globally measuring poly(A)-tail lengths have impeded greater understanding of poly(A)-tail function. Here, we describe poly(A)-tail length profiling by sequencing (PAL-seq) and apply it to measure tail lengths of millions of individual RNAs isolated from yeasts, cell lines, Arabidopsis leaves, mouse liver, and zebrafish and frog embryos. Poly(A)-tail lengths were conserved between orthologous mRNAs, with mRNAs encoding ribosomal proteins and other “housekeeping” proteins tending to have shorter tails. As expected, tail lengths were coupled to translational efficiency in early zebrafish and frog embryos. However, this strong coupling diminished at gastrulation and was absent in non-embryonic samples, indicating a rapid developmental switch in the nature of translational control. This switch complements an earlier switch to zygotic transcriptional control and explains why the predominant effect of microRNA-mediated deadenylation concurrently shifts from translational repression to mRNA destabilization.
Other Available Sources
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material (LAA), as set forth at Terms of Service
Collection