LSY-2 is essential for maintaining the germ-soma distinction in C. elegans.
10.1007/s13238-015-0173-1
- Author:
Long LIN
1
;
Yuping LI
;
Libo YAN
;
Gangming ZHANG
;
Yu ZHAO
;
Hong ZHANG
Author Information
1. College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Adenosine Triphosphatases;
genetics;
metabolism;
Animals;
Animals, Genetically Modified;
Caenorhabditis elegans;
genetics;
metabolism;
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins;
genetics;
metabolism;
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect;
Gene Expression Profiling;
Genes, Essential;
genetics;
Germ Cells;
metabolism;
Green Fluorescent Proteins;
genetics;
metabolism;
Mutation;
RNA Interference;
Transcription Factors;
genetics;
metabolism
- From:
Protein & Cell
2015;6(8):599-609
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The mechanisms that specify and maintain the characteristics of germ cells during animal development are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that loss of function of the zinc-finger gene lsy-2 results in various somatic cells adopting germ cells characteristics, including expression of germline-specific P granules, enhanced RNAi activity and transgene silencing. The soma to germ transformation in lsy-2 mutants requires the activities of multiple chromatin remodeling complexes, including the MES-4 complex and the ISW-1 complex. The distinct germline-specific features in somatic cells and the gene expression profile indicate that LSY-2 acts in the Mec complex in this process. Our study demonstrated that lsy-2 functions in the maintenance of the soma-germ distinction.
