# Title of Dataset: Dataset associated with "The ERM-1 membrane-binding domain directs erm-1 mRNA localization to the plasma membrane in the C. elegans embryo" --- Abstract: mRNA localization and transport are integral in regulating gene expression. In Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, the maternally inherited mRNA erm-1(Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin) becomes concentrated in anterior blastomeres. erm-1 mRNA localizes within those blastomeres to the plasma membrane where the essential ERM-1 protein, a membrane-actin linker, is also found. We demonstrate that the localization of erm-1 mRNA to the plasma membrane is translation dependent and requires its encoded N-terminal, membrane-binding (FERM) domain. By perturbing translation through multiple methods, we found that erm-1 mRNA localization at the plasma membrane persisted only if the nascent peptide remained in complex with the translating mRNA. Indeed, re-coding the erm-1 mRNA coding sequence while preserving the encoded amino acid sequence did not disrupt erm-1 mRNA localization, corroborating that the information directing mRNA localization resides within its membrane-binding protein domain. A single-molecule inexpensive fluorescence in situ hybridization screen of 17 genes encoding similar membrane-binding domains identified three plasma membrane-localized mRNAs in the early embryo. Ten additional transcripts showed potential membrane localization later in development. These findings point to a translation-dependent pathway for localization of mRNAs encoding membrane-associated proteins. Authors: Lindsay P. Winkenbach, Dylan M. Parker, Robert TP Williams, and Erin Osborne Nishimura Contact: erin.nishimura@colostate.edu ## Description of the Data and file structure Publication citation: Winkenbach, L. P., Parker, D. M., Williams, R. TP., & Nishimura, E. O. (2022). The ERM-1 membrane-binding domain directs erm-1 mRNA localization to the plasma membrane in the C. elegans embryo. Development. doi:10.1242/dev.200930 Data citation: Winkenbach, L. P., Parker, D. M., Williams, R. TP., & Nishimura, E. O. (2022). Dataset associated with "The ERM-1 membrane-binding domain directs erm-1 mRNA localization to the plasma membrane in the C. elegans embryo". Colorado State University. Libraries. http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9cnp5hqnp Format of data files: .tif and .txt files are contained in this repository Data were collected at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80524 Data were collected between 2018 and 2022. File information: Files are compressed using .zip. Each .zip file contains either all or part of the associated raw data for any particular figure, represented by the name of the file. Figure_1.zip Figure_2_S1.zip Figure_3_S2.zip Figure_4_S3A.zip Figure_5_S6-8.zip Figure_S9B.zip Methods: All images were acquired on a Photometrics Cool Snap HQ2 camera using a DeltaVision Elite inverted microscope (GE Healthcare), with an Olympus PLAN APO 60X (1.42 NA, PLAPON60XOSC2) objective, an Insight SSI 7-Color Solid State Light Engine, and SoftWorx software (Applied Precision) using 0.2 um z-stacks.