Abstract
Regulation of mRNA translation is especially important during cellular and developmental processes. Many evolutionarily conserved proteins act in the context of multiprotein complexes and modulate protein translation both at the spatial and the temporal levels. Among these, Bicaudal C constitutes a family of RNA binding proteins whose founding member was first identified in Drosophila and contains orthologs in vertebrates. We discuss recent advances towards understanding the functions of these proteins in the context of the cellular and developmental biology of many model organisms and their connection to human disease.
Highlights
Translational regulation of mRNA distributed asymmetrically in the early Drosophila embryo underlies pattern formation and germ cell specification
Work demonstrated that Bicaudal C (Bic-C) is required during oogenesis to establish anterior-posterior polarity in the oocyte [3, 5, 9, 10]
Bic-C is an ancient protein conserved from Drosophila to man
Summary
Translational regulation of mRNA distributed asymmetrically in the early Drosophila embryo underlies pattern formation and germ cell specification. Expression of certain proteins occurs only at definite stages of development. Often partially redundant mechanisms of control ensure the coordination of the spatial and temporal expression of proteins with morphogenetic potential. These mechanisms have been reviewed recently [6]. We will discuss the case of one of such translational regulators, Bicaudal C (Bic-C), which is evolutionarily conserved, and for which there is recent accumulating functional evidence from both invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms suggesting that Bic-C is a fundamental regulator of cellular processes and an outstanding example of the fascinating complexity of the developmental mechanisms
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