Abstract
We have identified a homolog of the mammalian p53 tumor suppressor protein in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is expressed ubiquitously in embryos. The gene encoding this protein, cep-1, promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis and is required for normal meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line. Moreover, although somatic apoptosis is unaffected, cep-1 mutants show hypersensitivity to hypoxia-induced lethality and decreased longevity in response to starvation-induced stress. Overexpression of CEP-1 promotes widespread caspase-independent cell death, demonstrating the critical importance of regulating p53 function at appropriate levels. These findings show that C. elegans p53 mediates multiple stress responses in the soma, and mediates apoptosis and meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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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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Apoptosis*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / chemistry
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
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DNA Damage
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Disorders of Sex Development
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Female
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Food
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Genes, Helminth
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Germ Cells / physiology
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Male
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Meiosis*
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation
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Oxygen / physiology
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / chemistry
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology*
Substances
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CEP-1 protein, C elegans
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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Oxygen