Molecular Biology of the Cell Call for Nominations: MBC Editor-in-Chief

Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] --
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

MBC in Press, published online ahead of print March 28, 2007
Mol. Biol. Cell 10.1091/mbc.E07-01-0074

A more recent version of this article appeared on June 1, 2007
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
E07-01-0074v2
18/6/2179    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cui, Z.
Right arrow Articles by DiMario, P. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cui, Z.
Right arrow Articles by DiMario, P. J.

Submitted on January 29, 2007
Revised on March 13, 2007
Accepted on March 20, 2007

RNAi Knockdown of Nopp140 Induces Minute-like Phenotypes in Drosophila

Zhengfang Cui and Patrick J. DiMario

Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Monitoring Editor: A. Gregory Matera

Nopp140 associates with small nucleolar RNPs to chaperone pre-rRNA processing and ribosome assembly. Alternative splicing yields two isoforms in Drosophila: Nopp140-True is homologous to vertebrate Nopp140 particularly in its carboxy terminus, while Nopp140-RGG contains a glycine and arginine rich (RGG) carboxy terminus typically found in vertebrate nucleolin. Loss of ribosome function or production at critical points in development leads to Minute phenotypes in Drosophila or the Treacher Collins Syndrome in humans. To ascertain the functional significance of Nopp140 in Drosophila development, we expressed interfering RNA using the GAL4/UAS system. Reverse transcription-PCR showed variable losses of Nopp140 mRNA in larvae from separate RNAi-expressing transgenic lines, while immuno-fluorescence microscopy with isoform-specific antibodies showed losses of Nopp140 in imaginal and polyploid tissues. Phenotypic expression correlated with the percent loss of Nopp140 transcripts: a ≥50% loss correlated with larval and pupal lethality, disrupted nuclear structures, and in some cases melanotic tumors, while a 30% loss correlated with adult wing, leg, and tergite deformities. We consider these adult phenotypes to be Minute-like and reminiscent of human craniofacial malformations associated with the Treacher Collins Syndrome. Similarly, overexpression of either isoform caused embryonic and larval lethality, thus indicating proper expression of Nopp140 is critical for normal development.

Address correspondence to: Patrick J. DiMario (pdimari{at}lsu.edu)






Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] --
Copyright © 2007 by The American Society for Cell Biology. Terms of copyright protection, warranties, and disclaimers.