Staufen: a common component of mRNA transport in oocytes and neurons?

Mammalian homologues of Staufen, a protein involved in localizing mRNAs dur ing oogenesis and early central nervous system development in Drosophila, h ave been identified recently. The mammalian staufen gene encodes a protein containing several conserved double-stranded mRNA-binding domains ani is ex pressed in hippocampal neurons. The mammalian Staufen protein forms granule s that are transported to the distal dendrite during neuronal maturation. T he Staufen granules colocalize with ribonuclear particles that transport mR NA to the dendrites. These findings might provide clues to a mechanism of m RNA transport consented in mammalian neurons and Drosophila oogenesis.