Abstract
Blastomeres in C. elegans embryos execute lineage programs wherein the fate of a cell is correlated reproducibly with the division sequence by which that cell is born. We provide evidence that the pop-1 gene functions to link anterior-posterior cell divisions with cell fate decisions. Each anterior cell resulting from an anterior-posterior division appears to have a higher level of nuclear POP-1 protein than does its posterior sister. Genes in the C. elegans Wnt pathway are required for this inequality in POP-1 levels. We show that loss of pop-1(+) activity leads to several types of anterior cells adopting the fates of their posterior sisters. These results suggest a mechanism for the invariance of blastomere lineages.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Blastomeres / chemistry
- Body Patterning / physiology*
- Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
- Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
- Cell Division
- Cell Nucleus / chemistry
- DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
- DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
- Genes, Helminth / physiology
- High Mobility Group Proteins / analysis
- High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
- High Mobility Group Proteins / physiology*
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
- Signal Transduction / genetics
- Wnt Proteins
- Zebrafish Proteins*
Substances
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- High Mobility Group Proteins
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins
- Wnt Proteins
- Zebrafish Proteins
- pop-1 protein, C elegans