Caenorhabditis elegans atx-2 promotes germline proliferation and the oocyte fate

Genetics. 2004 Oct;168(2):817-30. doi: 10.1534/genetics.104.029355.

Abstract

In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, proliferation is induced by Notch-type signaling. Entry of germ cells into meiosis is triggered by activity of the GLD-1 and GLD-2 pathways, which function redundantly to promote meiosis and/or inhibit proliferation. Activation of the germline Notch-type receptor, GLP-1, ultimately inhibits the activities of the GLD-1 and GLD-2 pathways. We previously identified several ego (enhancer of glp-1) genes that promote germline proliferation and interact genetically with the GLP-1 signaling pathway. Here, we show that atx-2 is an ego gene. Our data suggest that ATX-2 is not a positive regulator of the GLP-1 signaling pathway and GLP-1 signaling is not the sole positive regulator of ATX-2 activity. Moreover, our data indicate that GLP-1 must have an additional function, which may be to repress activity of a third meiotic entry pathway that would work in parallel with the GLD-1 and GLD-2 pathways. In addition to its role in proliferation, ATX-2 acts downstream of FOG-2 to promote the female germline fate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Ankyrin Repeat
  • Ataxins
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins* / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Female
  • Germ Cells
  • Meiosis / physiology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Oocytes / physiology*
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / metabolism
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Ataxins
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • GLD-1 protein, C elegans
  • Glp-1 protein, C elegans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • GLD-2 protein, C elegans
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY571963