Abstract
TRA-1, a member of the GLI family of transcription factors, is required for C. elegans female development. We find that TRA-1 has a sex-specific distribution consistent with its role in female development: nuclear TRA-1 is higher in hermaphrodite intestines and in specific germline regions than in males. TRA-1 patterns rely on nuclear export since treatment with leptomycin B, a CRM1-dependent export inhibitor, increases nuclearTRA-1 in males. TRA-1 export requires TRA-1 binding to the tra-2 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), as disruption of binding increases nuclear TRA-1 and female development. Our data are consistent with coexport of a TRA-1/tra-2 mRNA complex reducing TRA-1 nuclear activity, and identify an interesting RNA-based mechanism for controlling transcriptional activity and cell fate determination.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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3' Untranslated Regions / metabolism
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Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / physiology
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cytoplasm / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins*
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Disorders of Sex Development
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Helminth Proteins / genetics*
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Helminth Proteins / metabolism*
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Male
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Mutation / physiology
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Phenotype
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Ribonucleoproteins / genetics
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Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
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Sex Differentiation / physiology*
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcriptional Activation / physiology
Substances
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3' Untranslated Regions
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Helminth Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Ribonucleoproteins
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Transcription Factors
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tra-1 protein, C elegans
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tra2 protein, Drosophila