Muscleblind-1 interacts with tubulin mRNAs to regulate the microtubule cytoskeleton in C. elegans mechanosensory neurons

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010885
• Publication Date: 2023-08-21T17:29:24Z
• Authors: Dharmendra Puri; Sunanda Sharma; Sarbani Samaddar; Sruthy Ravivarma; Sourav Banerjee; Anindya Ghosh-Roy
• Keywords: Neurite

Regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton is crucial for development and maintenance neuronal architecture, recent studies have highlighted significance regulated RNA processing in establishment neural circuits. In a genetic screen conducted using mechanosensory neurons C . elegans , we identified mutation m uscle bl ind -1/mbl-1 as suppressor loss kinesin-13 family destabilizing factor klp-7 Muscleblind-1(MBL-1) an RNA-binding protein that regulates splicing, localization, stability RNA. Our findings demonstrate mbl-1 required cell-autonomously axon growth proper synapse positioning posterior lateral (PLM) neuron. Loss leads to increased dynamics mixed orientation microtubules anterior neurite PLM. These defects are also accompanied by abnormal axonal transport synaptic RAB-3 reduction gentle touch sensation mutant. data revealed genetically epistatic mec-7 (β tubulin) mec-12 (α regulating growth. Furthermore, sad-1 ortholog BRSK/Brain specific-serine/threonine kinase known regulator machinery, formation at correct location PLM neurite. Notably, immunoprecipitation MBL-1 resulted co-purification mRNAs, suggesting direct interaction between these transcripts. Additionally, mutants exhibited reduced levels study establishes previously unknown link proteins cytoskeletal highlighting their roles nervous system.