Methylation on the base or ribose is prevalent in eukaryotic ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and thought to be crucial for ribosome biogenesis function. Artificially introduced 2'-O-methyl groups small interfering (siRNAs) can stabilize siRNAs serum without affecting their activities RNA interference mammalian cells. Here, we show that plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have a naturally occurring methyl group of last nucleotide. Whereas methylation rRNAs depends guide RNAs, methyltransferase protein HEN1...

Although transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily ligands play critical roles in diverse developmental processes, how cells transduce signals from these is still poorly understood. Cell surface receptors for have been identified, but their cytoplasmic targets are unknown. We identified three Caenorhabditis elegans genes, sma-2, sma-3, and sma-4, that mutant phenotypes similar to those of the TGF-beta-like receptor gene daf-4, indicating they required daf-4-mediated processes....

The complete nucleotide sequence of a 6,851-base pair (bp) member the L1Md repetitive family from selected random isolate BALB/c mouse genome is reported here. Five kilobases element contains two overlapping reading frames 1,137 and 3,900 bp. entire 3,900-bp frame 3' 600 bp 1,137-bp frame, when compared with composite consensus primate L1 sequence, show ratio replacement to silent site differences characteristic protein coding sequences. This more closely defines capacity this family, which...

The type beta transforming growth factor family is composed of a series processed, secreted factors, several which have been implicated in important regulatory roles cell determination, inductive interactions, and tissue differentiation. Among these the sequence DPP protein from Drosophila most similar to two vertebrate bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP2 BMP4. Here we report that human BMP4 ligand sequences can function lieu embryos. We introduced region into genomic fragment dpp gene place...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered set of regulatory genes that constitute up to an estimated 1% the total number in animal genomes, including Caenorhabditis elegans , Drosophila mouse, and humans [Lagos-Quintana, M., Rauhut, R., Lendeckel, W. & Tuschl, T. (2001) Science 294, 853–858; Lai, E. C., Tomancak, P., Williams, R. Rubin, G.M. (2003) Genome Biol. 4, R42; Lau, N. Lim, L. Weinstein, G. Bartel, D. P. 858–862; Lee, C. Ambros, V. 862-8644; Feinbaum, (1993) Cell 115,...

ABSTRACT We cloned the dbl-1 gene, a C. elegans homolog of Drosophila decapentaplegic and vertebrate BMP genes. Loss-of-function mutations in cause markedly reduced body size defective male copulatory structures. Conversely, overexpression causes increased partly complementary tail phenotypes, indicating that DBL-1 acts as dose- dependent regulator these processes. Evidence from genetic interactions indicates effects are mediated by Smad signaling pathway, for which is previously...

The unc-129 gene, like the unc-6 netrin is required to guide pioneer motoraxons along dorsoventral axis of Caenorhabditis elegans . encodes a member transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) superfamily secreted signaling molecules and expressed in dorsal, but not ventral, rows body wall muscles. Ectopic expression UNC-129 from ventral muscle disrupts cone cell migrations that normally occur axis. Thus, mediates polarity information for axon guidance guided C.

We examine roles of signaling by secreted ligands the TGF-beta family during Drosophila oogenesis. One member, DPP ligand encoded decapentaplegic (dpp) gene, is required for patterning anterior eggshell structures. This requirement presumably reflects expression pattern dpp in an subset somatic follicle cells: centripetally migrating and nurse cell-associated cells. Similar requirements are also revealed mutations saxophone (sax)-encoded receptor, consistent with idea that is, at least part,...

The decapentaplegic (dpp) locus of Drosophila melanogaster is a greater than 55 kb genetic unit required for proper pattern formation during the embryonic and imaginal development organism. We have proposed that these morphogenetic functions result from action secreted transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-related protein product encoded by dpp. In this paper we localize 60 mutations on molecular map positions cluster according to phenotypic class, identifying locations specific dpp...

Summary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, abundant transcripts that can bind partially homologous target messages to inhibit their translation in animal cells. miRNAs have been shown affect a broad spectrum of biological activities, including developmental fate determination, cell signaling and oncogenesis. Little is known, however, miRNA contributions aging. We examined the expression 114 identified Caenorhabditis elegans during adult lifespan find 34 exhibit changes adulthood ( P ≤ 0.05), 31...

The dwarfin protein family has been genetically implicated in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)-like signaling pathways Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. To investigate the role of these proteins mammalian pathways, we have isolated studied two murine dwarfins, dwarfin-A dwarfin-C. Using antibodies against dwarfin-C, show that dwarfins an immunogenically related protein, presumably also a dwarfin, are phosphorylated time- dose-dependent manner response to TGF-beta. Bone...

ABSTRACT In C. elegans, the TGFβ-like type II receptor daf-4 is required for two distinct signaling pathways. association with I daf-1, it functions in dauer pathway. addition, also body size determination and male tail patterning, roles which do not require daf-1. an effort to determine how different signals are transmitted through daf-4, we looked other potential partners DAF-4. We have cloned characterized a novel show that encoded by sma-6. Mutations sma-6 generate reduced (Sma) abnormal...

The complete nucleotide sequence of a 6,851-base pair (bp) member the L1Md repetitive family from selected random isolate BALB/c mouse genome is reported here. Five kilobases element contains two overlapping reading frames 1,137 and 3,900 bp. entire 3,900-bp frame 3' 600 bp 1,137-bp frame, when compared with composite consensus primate L1 sequence, show ratio replacement to silent site differences characteristic protein coding sequences. This more closely defines capacity this family, which...

The Drosophila decapentaplegic ( dpp ) gene encodes a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-like protein that plays key role in several aspects of development. Transduction the DPP signal was investigated by cloning serine-threonine kinase transmembrane receptors from because this type receptor is specific for TGF-β-like ligands. Here evidence provided demonstrating saxophone sax gene, previously identified female sterile locus, I receptor. Embryos mothers and embryos exhibit similar mutant...

Abstract Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that target mRNAs to control gene expression by attenuating the translational efficiency and stability of transcripts. They found in a wide variety organisms, from plants insects humans. Here, we use Drosophila investigate possibility circadian clocks regulate miRNAs. Results We used microarray platform survey daily levels D. melanogaster miRNAs adult heads wildtype flies arrhythmic clock mutant cyc 01 . find two...

The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily of signaling pathways, including the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subfamily ligands and receptors, controls a myriad developmental processes across metazoan biology. Transport receptors from plasma membrane to endosomes has been proposed promote TGFβ signal transduction shape BMP-signaling gradients throughout development. However, how postendocytic trafficking BMP contributes regulation remained enigmatic. Here we report that...

Abstract Genome editing using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and associated nuclease (Cas9) enables specific genetic modifications, including deletions, insertions, substitutions in numerous organisms, such as fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. One challenge of CRISPR/Cas9 system can be laborious time-consuming screening required to find CRISPR-induced modifications due a lack an obvious phenotype low frequency after editing. Here we apply successful...

Abstract The Drosophila decapentaplegic gene (dpp) encodes a TGF-β family member involved in signal transduction during embryonic midgut formation. shortvein (shv) class of cis-regulatory dpp mutants disrupt expression parasegments 4 and 7 (ps4 ps7) the visceral mesoderm (VM) surrounding gut cause abnormalities morphogenesis. We demonstrate that elements directing ps4 ps7 are separable identify DNA fragments generate patterns using reporter constructs. both is autoregulated as it requires...

Signals from transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) ligands are transmitted within the cell by members of Smad family, which can be grouped into three classes based on sequence similarities. Our previous identification both class I and II Smads functioning in a single pathway C. elegans, raised issue whether requirement for derived different is general feature TGF-beta signaling. We report here new Drosophila Smad, Medea, close homolog human tumor-suppressor gene DPC4. Embryos germline...