Repression of gene expression in the embryonic germ lineage of C. elegans

Nature. 1996 Aug 22;382(6593):713-6. doi: 10.1038/382713a0.

Abstract

The distinction between soma and germline was recognized more than a century ago: somatic cells form the body of an organism, whereas germ cells serve to produce future generations. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the separation of some and germline occurs through a series of asymmetrical divisions, in which embryonic germline blastomeres divide unequally to produce one somatic daughter and one germline daughter. Here we show that after each asymmetrical division, embryonically transcribed RNAs are detected in somatic, but not germline, blastomeres. This asymmetry depends on the activity of the germline specific factor, PIE-1. In the absence of PIE-1, embryonically transcribed RNAs are detected in both somatic and germline blastomeres. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PIE-1 in somatic blastomeres can significantly reduce the accumulation of new transcripts in these cells. Taken together, these results suggest that germ-cell fate depends on an inhibitory mechanism that blocks new gene expression in the early embryonic germ lineage.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastomeres / cytology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genes, Helminth*
  • Germ Cells / cytology*
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics*
  • Helminth Proteins / physiology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • pie-1 protein, C elegans