Abstract
Blastomeres in C. elegans embryos execute lineage programs wherein the fate of a cell is correlated reproducibly with the division sequence by which that cell is born. We provide evidence that the pop-1 gene functions to link anterior-posterior cell divisions with cell fate decisions. Each anterior cell resulting from an anterior-posterior division appears to have a higher level of nuclear POP-1 protein than does its posterior sister. Genes in the C. elegans Wnt pathway are required for this inequality in POP-1 levels. We show that loss of pop-1(+) activity leads to several types of anterior cells adopting the fates of their posterior sisters. These results suggest a mechanism for the invariance of blastomere lineages.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Antibodies, Monoclonal
-
Blastomeres / chemistry
-
Body Patterning / physiology*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
-
Cell Division
-
Cell Nucleus / chemistry
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
-
DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
-
Genes, Helminth / physiology
-
High Mobility Group Proteins / analysis
-
High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
-
High Mobility Group Proteins / physiology*
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
-
Signal Transduction / genetics
-
Wnt Proteins
-
Zebrafish Proteins*
Substances
-
Antibodies, Monoclonal
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
-
DNA-Binding Proteins
-
High Mobility Group Proteins
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
-
Wnt Proteins
-
Zebrafish Proteins
-
pop-1 protein, C elegans