Fluid flow-induced left-right asymmetric decay of Dand5 mRNA in the mouse embryo requires Bicc1-Ccr4 RNA degradation complex

Abstract

Molecular left-right (L-R) asymmetry is established at the node of the mouse embryo as a result of the sensing of a leftward fluid flow by immotile cilia of perinodal crown cells and the consequent degradation of Dand5 mRNA on the left side. We here examined how the fluid flow induces Dand5 mRNA decay. We found that the 3 untranslated region (3-UTR) of Dand5 mRNA is necessary and sufficient for the left-sided decay and is responsive to the flow direction, loss of the cation channel Pkd2, and Ca2+. The 200-nucleotide proximal-most portion of the 3-UTR, which is conserved among mammals, is essential for the asymmetric mRNA decay and binds Bicc1, an RNA binding protein specifically expressed at the node. Bicc1 preferentially recognizes GAC and GACR sequences in RNA, and these motifs are enriched in the 200-nucleotide region of the Dand5 3-UTR. The Cnot3 component of the Ccr4-Not deadenylase complex interacts with Bicc1 and is also required for Dand5 mRNA decay at the node. Our results thus suggest that leftward fluid flow induces binding of Bicc1 to the 3-UTR of Dand5 mRNA in crown cells on the left side of the node, and that consequent recruitment of Ccr4-Not mediates mRNA degradation.