Abstract
The E proteins of mammals, and the related Daughterless (DA) protein of Drosophila, are ubiquitously expressed helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors that play a role in many developmental processes. We report here the characterization of a related C. elegans protein, CeE/DA, which has a dynamic and restricted distribution during development. CeE/DA is present embryonically in neuronal precursors, some of which are marked by promoter activity of a newly described Achaete-scute-like gene hlh-3. In contrast, we have been unable to detect CeE/DA in CeMyoD-positive striated muscle cells. In vitro gel mobility shift analysis detects dimerization of CeE/DA with HLH-3 while efficient interaction of CeE/DA with CeMyoD is not seen. These studies suggest multiple roles for CeE/DA in C. elegans development and provide evidence that both common and alternative strategies have evolved for the use of related HLH proteins in controlling cell fates in different species.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Blastomeres / chemistry
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cell Nucleus
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Chromosome Mapping
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Cloning, Molecular
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Dimerization
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Genes, Helminth
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs*
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Helminth Proteins / analysis
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Helminth Proteins / chemistry
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Helminth Proteins / genetics*
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Helminth Proteins / physiology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Morphogenesis
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Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry
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Muscle, Skeletal / embryology
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Neurons / chemistry*
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Organ Specificity
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Transcription Factors / analysis
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / physiology
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Da protein, Drosophila
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Drosophila Proteins
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HLH-2 protein, C elegans
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HLH-3 protein, C elegans
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Helminth Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Transcription Factors
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ac protein, Drosophila
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sc protein, Drosophila
Associated data
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GENBANK/U13614
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GENBANK/U30248
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GENBANK/U78953