The identities of sym-2, sym-3 and sym-4, three genes that are synthetically lethal with mec-8 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetics. 2004 Nov;168(3):1293-306. doi: 10.1534/genetics.104.029827.

Abstract

On the basis of synthetic lethality, five genes in Caenorhabditis elegans are known to be redundant with the mec-8 gene, which encodes a protein that contains two copies of an RNA recognition motif (RRM) and affects alternative RNA splicing. The molecular identities of two of the redundant genes, sym-1 and sym-5, were previously reported. The remaining three genes have now been cloned, and their synthetically lethal phenotypes with mec-8 are described in more detail. Animals homozygous for mec-8 and sym-2 loss-of-function mutations die during late embryogenesis. The SYM-2 predicted protein contains three RRMs; we propose that SYM-2 and MEC-8 can substitute for each other in promoting the maturation of the transcripts of a vital gene. Animals homozygous for mutations in mec-8 and in either sym-3 or sym-4 have the same striking defect: they arrest development just prior to or just after hatching with a pharynx that appears fully formed but is not properly attached to the body cuticle. sym-3 encodes a protein of unknown function with orthologs in Drosophila and mammals. sym-4 encodes a WD-repeat protein and may also have orthologs in Drosophila and mammals. We propose that SYM-3 and SYM-4 contribute to a common developmental pathway that is redundant with a MEC-8-dependent pathway.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Genes, Lethal
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SYM-2 protein, C elegans
  • SYM-3 protein, C elegans
  • SYM-4 protein, C elegans
  • mec-8 protein, C elegans

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY220985
  • GENBANK/AY221634
  • GENBANK/AY223545
  • GENBANK/AY372076