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The mammalian RNA-binding protein staufen2 links nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing pathways in neurons

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Abstract

Members of the Staufen family of RNA-binding proteins are highly conserved cytoplasmic RNA transporters associated with RNA granules. staufen2 is specifically expressed in neurons where the delivery of RNA to dendrites is thought to have a role in plasticity. We found that Staufen2 interacts with the nuclear pore protein p62, with the RNA export protein Tap and with the exon-exon junction complex (EJC) proteins Y14-Mago. The interaction of Staufen2 with the Y14-Mago heterodimer seems to represent a highly conserved complex as the same proteins are involved in the Staufen-mediated localization of oskar mRNA in Drosophila oocytes. A pool of Staufen2 is present in neuronal nuclei and colocalizes to a large degree with p62 and partly with Tap, Y14, and Mago. We suggest a model whereby a set of conserved genes in the oskar mRNA export pathway may be recruited to direct a dendritic destination for mRNAs originating as a Staufen2 nuclear complex.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, MA

    Michaela Monshausen

  2. Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, University of Heidelberg & European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany

    Niels H. Gehring

  3. Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, 93106-5060, Santa Barbara, CA

    Kenneth S. Kosik

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  1. Michaela Monshausen
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  2. Niels H. Gehring
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  3. Kenneth S. Kosik
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Correspondence to Kenneth S. Kosik.

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Monshausen, M., Gehring, N.H. & Kosik, K.S. The mammalian RNA-binding protein staufen2 links nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing pathways in neurons. Neuromol Med 6, 127–144 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/NMM:6:2-3:127

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