Intracellular and intercellular transport of many germ cell mRNAs is mediated by the DNA- and RNA-binding protein, testis-brain-RNA-binding protein (TB-RBP).

Abstract

Functions ranging from RNA transport and translational regulation to DNA rearrangement and repair have been proposed for the DNA- and RNA-binding protein, testis-brain-RNA-binding protein (TB-RBP). TB-RBP is primarily in the nuclei of male germ cells during meiosis and in the cytoplasm of male cells after metaphase I of meiosis. Based on its shift in subcellular locations as germ cells differentiate and its binding to microtubules and microfilaments, a model is presented proposing an involvement of TB-RBP in mRNA transport from nucleus to cytoplasm and in the sharing of mRNAs transcribed from the sex chromosomes by movement through intercellular bridges of germ cells.