Amyloid-like Self-Assembly of a Cellular Compartment
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Most vertebrate oocytes contain a Balbiani body, a large, non-membrane-bound compartment packed with RNA, mitochondria, and other organelles. Little is known about this compartment, though it specifies germline identity in many non-mammalian vertebrates. We show Xvelo, a disordered protein with an N-terminal prion-like domain, is an abundant constituent of Xenopus Balbiani bodies. Disruption of the prion-like domain of Xvelo, or substitution with a prion-like domain from an unrelated protein, interferes with its incorporation into Balbiani bodies in vivo. Recombinant Xvelo forms amyloid-like networks in vitro. Amyloid-like assemblies of Xvelo recruit both RNA and mitochondria in binding assays. We propose that Xenopus Balbiani bodies form by amyloid-like assembly of Xvelo, accompanied by co-recruitment of mitochondria and RNA. Prion-like domains are found in germ plasm organizing proteins in other species, suggesting that Balbiani body formation by amyloid-like assembly could be a conserved mechanism that helps oocytes function as long-lived germ cells.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 637-650 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Cell |
Volume | 166 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 28 Jul 2016 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 27471966 |
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ORCID | /0000-0003-4017-6505/work/142253872 |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- velo1