Critical role of Spatio-Temporally Regulated Maternal RNAs in Zebrafish Embryogenesis

The maternal-to-zygotic transition shifts regulatory control from maternal to zygotic messenger RNAs (mRNA) through maternal mRNA degradation. While temporal aspects of maternal mRNA decay are known, spatial mechanisms remain underexplored. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and CRISPR-Cas13d systems, we functionall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Kushawah, Gopal, Danielson Baia Amaral, Hassan, Huzaifa, Gogol, Madelaine M, Nowotarski, Stephanie H, Bazzini, Ariel A
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 08.11.2024
Subjects
3' Untranslated regions
CRISPR
Embryogenesis
Gametogenesis
Localization
mRNA stability
mRNA turnover
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Summary:The maternal-to-zygotic transition shifts regulatory control from maternal to zygotic messenger RNAs (mRNA) through maternal mRNA degradation. While temporal aspects of maternal mRNA decay are known, spatial mechanisms remain underexplored. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and CRISPR-Cas13d systems, we functionally dissected the contribution of maternal versus zygotic fractions and overcame challenges of studying embryonic lethal genes. We identified differentially distributed maternal mRNAs in specific cells and evidenced the critical role of five maternal mRNAs, cth1, arl4d, abi1b, foxa and lhx1a, in embryogenesis. Further, we focused on the functionally uncharacterized cth1 gene, revealing its essential role in gametogenesis and embryogenesis. Cth1 acts as a spatio-temporal RNA decay factor regulating mRNA stability and accumulation of its targets in a spatio-temporal manner through 3'UTR recognition during early development. Furthermore, Cth1 3'UTR drives its spatio-temporal RNA localization. Our findings provide new insights into spatio-temporal RNA decay mechanisms and highlight dual CRISPR-Cas strategies in studying embryonic development.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
DOI:10.1101/2024.11.07.622483