Research article summary (published 13 Jul 2009):

The NK-2 class homeodomain factor CEH-51 and the T-box factor TBX-35 have overlapping function in C. elegans mesoderm development.

Full Abstract

The C. elegans MS blastomere, born at the 7-cell stage of embryogenesis, generates primarily mesodermal cell types, including pharynx cells, body muscles and coelomocytes. A presumptive null mutation in the T-box factor gene tbx-35, a target of the MED-1 and MED-2 divergent GATA factors, was previously found to result in a profound decrease in the production of MS-derived tissues, although the tbx-35(-) embryonic arrest phenotype was variable. We report here that the NK-2 class homeobox gene ceh-51 is a direct target of TBX-35 and at least one other factor, and that CEH-51 and TBX-35 share functions. Embryos homozygous for a ceh-51 null mutation arrest as larvae with pharynx and muscle defects, although these tissues appear to be specified correctly. Loss of tbx-35 and ceh-51 together results in a synergistic phenotype resembling loss of med-1 and med-2. Overexpression of ceh-51 causes embryonic arrest and generation of ectopic body muscle and coelomocytes. Our data show that TBX-35 and CEH-51 have overlapping function in MS lineage development. As T-box regulators and NK-2 homeodomain factors are both important for heart development in Drosophila and vertebrates, our results suggest that these regulators function in a similar manner in C. elegans to specify a major precursor of mesoderm.

Author information

Author/s: Broitman-Maduro, Gina (G); Owraghi, Melissa (M); Hung, Wendy W K (WW); Kuntz, Steven (S); Sternberg, Paul W (PW); Maduro, Morris F (MF);

Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. mmaduro(-atsign-)ucr.edu

Grants: 1R03HD054589-01 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; (Agency:Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Development (Cambridge, England) (Development), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 136 (issue 16) : pp 2735-46

Dates: Created 2009/07/27; Completed 2009/11/03;

PMID: 19605496, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/3/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Amino Acid Sequence Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Blastomeres - physiology Caenorhabditis elegans - anatomy & histology; embryology; growth & development Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics; metabolism Cell Lineage Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Gene Knockout Techniques Gene Regulatory Networks - physiology

Gene Regulatory Networks - physiology Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; metabolism Mesoderm - physiology Molecular Sequence Data Phenotype RNA Interference Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; metabolism Sequence Alignment T-Box Domain Proteins - genetics; metabolism Transcription Factors - genetics; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: CEH-51 protein, C elegans (0) ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins (0) ; Homeodomain Proteins (0) ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins (0) ; T-Box Domain Proteins (0) ; TBX-35 protein, C elegans (0) ; Transcription Factors (0)

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