@article{07722b02389a42049eeb3c1a71a1d12c,
title = "Computational modeling offers new insight into Drosophila germ granule development",
abstract = "The packaging of specific mRNAs into ribonucleoprotein granules called germ granules is required for germline proliferation and maintenance. During Drosophila germ granule development, mRNAs such as nanos (nos) and polar granule component (pgc) localize to germ granules through a stochastic seeding and self-recruitment process that generates homotypic clusters: aggregates containing multiple copies of a specific transcript. Germ granules vary in mRNA composition with respect to the different transcripts that they contain and their quantity. However, what influences germ granule mRNA composition during development is unclear. To gain insight into how germ granule mRNA heterogeneity arises, we created a computational model that simulates granule development. Although the model includes known mechanisms that were converted into mathematical representations, additional unreported mechanisms proved to be essential for modeling germ granule formation. The model was validated by predicting defects caused by changes in mRNA and protein abundance. Broader application of the model was demonstrated by quantifying nos and pgc localization efficacies and the contribution that an element within the nos 3′ untranslated region has on clustering. For the first time, a mathematical representation of Drosophila germ granule formation is described, offering quantitative insight into how mRNA compositions arise while providing a new tool for guiding future studies.",
author = "Michael Valentino and Ortega, {Bianca M.} and Bianca Ulrich and Doyle, {Dominique A.} and Farnum, {Edward D.} and Joiner, {David A.} and Gavis, {Elizabeth R.} and Niepielko, {Matthew G.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank the Center for Biological Imaging at Kean University for assisting with super-resolution image acquisition and the members of the Gavis Lab and the Niepielko Lab for their helpful comments and fruitful discussions. We thank the Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University for supporting M.V. through the Graduate Research Assistantship program. We thank the anonymous reviewers for providing suggestions that improved this research. Research reported in this publication was supported by the XSEDE EMPOWER program under National Science Foundation grant no. ACI-1548562 to B.M.O. the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under award no. R35 GM126967 to E.R.G. the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under award no. F32 GM119200 to M.G.N. and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R15HD102960 to M.G.N. Funding Information: We thank the Center for Biological Imaging at Kean University for assisting with super-resolution image acquisition and the members of the Gavis Lab and the Niepielko Lab for their helpful comments and fruitful discussions. We thank the Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University for supporting M.V. through the Graduate Research Assistantship program. We thank the anonymous reviewers for providing suggestions that improved this research. Research reported in this publication was supported by the XSEDE EMPOWER program under National Science Foundation grant no. ACI-1548562 to B.M.O., the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under award no. R35 GM126967 to E.R.G., the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under award no. F32 GM119200 to M.G.N., and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under award no. R15HD102960 to M.G.N. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Biophysical Society",
year = "2022",
month = apr,
day = "19",
doi = "10.1016/j.bpj.2022.03.014",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "121",
pages = "1465--1482",
journal = "Biophysical Journal",
issn = "0006-3495",
publisher = "Biophysical Society",
number = "8",
}