F
IPR008705

Nanos/Xcat2

InterPro entry
Short nameNanos/Xcar2
Overlapping
homologous
superfamilies
 

Description

In Drosophila melanogaster, Nanos functions as a localised determinant of posterior pattern. Nanos RNA is localised to the posterior pole of the maturing egg cell and encodes a protein that emanates from this localised source. Nanos acts as a translational repressor and thereby establishes a gradient of the morphogen Hunchback
[3]
. Nanos comprises a non-conserved amino-terminus and highly conserved carboxy- terminal regions. The C-terminal region has two conserved Cys-Cys-His-Cys (CCHC)-type zinc-finger motifs that are indispensable for nanos function
[1]
. Xcat-2 from Xenopus encodes a protein with a nanos-like zinc finger domain. It is found in the vegetal cortical region and is inherited by the vegetal blasomeres during development, and is degraded very early in development. The localised and maternally restricted expression of Xcat-2 RNA suggests a role for its protein in setting up regional differences in gene expression that occur early in development
[2]
.

This entry consists of the Nanos protein and homologues, including Xcat-2.

References

1.Crystal structure of zinc-finger domain of Nanos and its functional implications. Hashimoto H, Hara K, Hishiki A, Kawaguchi S, Shichijo N, Nakamura K, Unzai S, Tamaru Y, Shimizu T, Sato M. EMBO Rep. 11, 848-53, (2010). View articlePMID: 20948543

2.A mRNA localized to the vegetal cortex of Xenopus oocytes encodes a protein with a nanos-like zinc finger domain. Mosquera L, Forristall C, Zhou Y, King ML. Development 117, 377-86, (1993). View articlePMID: 8223259

3.nanos is an evolutionarily conserved organizer of anterior-posterior polarity. Curtis D, Apfeld J, Lehmann R. Development 121, 1899-910, (1995). View articlePMID: 7601003

GO terms

biological process

  • None

cellular component

  • None
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