Research report 2010 - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Cajal Bodies and their role in embryogenesis and RNA-Processing
Authors
Neugebauer, Karla; Oates, Andy
Departments
Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik, Dresden
Summary
Cajal Bodies (CBs) are evolutionarily conserved subnuclear compartments that contain components of the RNA processing machinery. Their function has remained mysterious. Eucaryotic cells have a nucleus that exhibits various “bodies” without a membrane, including the CBs. The groups of Karla Neugebauer and Andy Oates provide evidence that CBs increase the rate of biogenesis of snRNPs, macromolecular complexes required for gene expression. This indicates that CBs increase rates of macromolecular assembly and thereby promote cell growth, proliferation and the execution of genetic programs.