Abstract
The END-1 GATA factor has been implicated in specifying endoderm in Caenorhabditis elegans and is the earliest known zygotic protein expressed in the lineage of E, the clonal endoderm progenitor. We report that ubiquitous end-1 expression during a critical period in embryogenesis causes all non-endodermal lineages to produce endoderm instead of ectoderm and/or mesoderm. END-1 expression bypasses the requirement for maternal SKN-1 and the maternal Wnt signaling pathway in endoderm formation. This suggests that a primary function of these maternal factors is to regulate zygotic end-1 expression, which is then sufficient to initiate the entire program for endoderm development.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Biomarkers / analysis
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Blastomeres / cytology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Lineage
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Cytoplasmic Granules
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology
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DNA-Binding Proteins*
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Endoderm / cytology*
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GATA Transcription Factors
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Helminth Proteins / genetics
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Helminth Proteins / physiology
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Intestines
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
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Stem Cells / cytology*
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Time Factors
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Trans-Activators*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Wnt Proteins
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Zebrafish Proteins*
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Zygote
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beta Catenin
Substances
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Biomarkers
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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END-1 protein, C elegans
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GATA Transcription Factors
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Helminth Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
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Zebrafish Proteins
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beta Catenin
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skn-1 protein, C elegans