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Review
. 2008 Apr;1779(4):217-29.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2008.02.002. Epub 2008 Feb 14.

Translational control by cytoplasmic polyadenylation in Xenopus oocytes

Helois E Radford  1 , Hedda A Meijer, Cornelia H de Moor
Affiliations
Review

Translational control by cytoplasmic polyadenylation in Xenopus oocytes

Helois E Radford et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

Elongation of the poly(A) tails of specific mRNAs in the cytoplasm is a crucial regulatory step in oogenesis and early development of many animal species. The best studied example is the regulation of translation by cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements (CPEs) in the 3' untranslated region of mRNAs involved in Xenopus oocyte maturation. In this review we discuss the mechanism of translational control by the CPE binding protein (CPEB) in Xenopus oocytes as follows: 1. The cytoplasmic polyadenylation machinery such as CPEB, the subunits of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF), symplekin, Gld-2 and poly(A) polymerase (PAP). 2. The signal transduction that leads to the activation of CPE-mediated polyadenylation during oocyte maturation, including the potential roles of kinases such as MAPK, Aurora A, CamKII, cdk1/Ringo and cdk1/cyclin B. 3. The role of deadenylation and translational repression, including the potential involvement of PARN, CCR4/NOT, maskin, pumilio, Xp54 (Ddx6, Rck), other P-body components and isoforms of the cap binding initiation factor eIF4E. Finally we discuss some of the remaining questions regarding the mechanisms of translational regulation by cytoplasmic polyadenylation and give our view on where our knowledge is likely to be expanded in the near future.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The activation of CPE-mediated cytoplasmic polyadenylation. In immature oocytes, CPE containing mRNAs already contain all the proteins necessary for polyadenylation as well as the deadenylase PARN. During oocyte maturation, phosphorylation of CPEB causes a rearrangement of the complex that leads to the ejection of PARN and the activation of the poly(A) polymerase Gld-2. 4E: eIF4E, 4A: eIF4A. For further description of this process, see the text.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The signal transduction cascade leading to cytoplasmic polyadenylation during oocyte maturation. Schematic representation of the key signalling events in oocyte maturation and the role of cytoplasmic polyadenylation in this process. For a detailed description, see the text.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Four models of translation repression by CPEs. Schematic representation of some of the proposed translational repression mechanisms for CPE containing mRNAs. For a detailed description, see the text.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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