THE ROLE OF ELAV-LIKE GENES, A CONSERVED FAMILY ENCODING RNA-BINDING PROTEINS, IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

The elav gene is the prototype for a developmental regulator encoding a tissue-specific RNA-binding protein. The family of elav-like genes i ncludes multiple members that are expressed in the nervous system at d ifferent times during development and also one that is expressed in al l tissues. The elav-like proteins are proposed to function by binding to specific mRNAs and regulating their expression to control a develop mental program. Consistent with this model, the overexpression of some elav-like genes results in an alteration in the developmental fates o f some cells. Potential mRNA targets for these proteins have been iden tified along with functions in alternative RNA processing, cytoplasmic polyadenylation, and mRNA stability. This diversity of post-transcrip tional regulatory events may be due to combinatorial interactions with other RNA-binding proteins and multiple effectors of RNA regulation. (C) 1997 Academic Press Ltd.