Charakterisierung der Genexpression und physiologischen Funktionen des mRNA- Bindeproteins IMP2 im murinen Zentralnervensystem
Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse
mRNA-binding proteins are important regulators of, for example, mRNA transport or protein translation and are thus key players in developmental as well as basic cellular functions. The novel mRNA-binding protein IMP2 (IGF-II leader 3 mRNA binding protein 2) was initially discovered due to its binding to the IGF-II leader 3 mRNA. Whereas all the IMP family members show a biphasic expression pattern that is restricted to development, IMP2 mRNA has also been shown to be expressed in the adult, thus suggesting a role for IMP2 in processes other than development. The aim of this project was, therefore, to study the phenotype of IMP2 deletion in IMP2 knock-out mice as well as the analysis of IMP2 expression patterns. A further aspect of the present project was the provision of an in-vivo model allowing for the identification of mRNAs that are bound by IMP2 as well the identification of proteins that interact with IMP2. To this aim, 'knock-in' mice were generated in which a tandem affinity purification (TAP)-tag has been added at the C-terminus of IMP2.
