Spatio-temporally regulated maternal RNA decay factor essential for zebrafish development
Maternal mRNA decay is essential for the Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition (MZT), yet its impact on spatial regulation has remained largely unexplored. We identify Cth1 as the first maternally encoded RNA-decay factor regulated in a spatiotemporal manner outside the germline in zebrafish, driven by conserved 3'UTR cis-elements. RfxCas13-dmediated depletion of maternal cth1 revealed early…
A groundbreaking study unveils the crucial role of a maternal RNA decay factor, Cth1, in the spatial regulation of zebrafish development. Researchers have discovered that Cth1, a maternally encoded RNA-decay factor, operates in a spatiotemporal manner outside the germline, a phenomenon previously unexplored. This factor is driven by conserved 3 UTR cis-elements and is regulated by RfxCas13-dmediated depletion.
The study, conducted on zebrafish, found that the early developmental defects caused by the depletion of maternal cth1 could not be analyzed using SpyCas9 mutants due to infertility resulting from impaired gametogenesis. Mechanistically, Cth1 functions independently of zygotic genome activation, targeting AU-rich motifs in maternal 3 UTRs.
This results in the promotion of deadenylation and decay in a spatiotemporal manner. When the AU-rich motifs are deleted or Cth1 is depleted, both reporter and endogenous transcripts become stabilized.
These findings establish Cth1 as a key player in the maternal program, providing the first direct evidence that spatiotemporally regulated mRNA decay, outside the germline, significantly contributes to early vertebrate development.
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