Genetic requirements for PIE-1 localization and inhibition of gene expression in the embryonic germ lineage of Caenorhabditis elegans

Christina Tenenhaus, Charlotte Schubert, Geraldine Seydoux

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

In early Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, production of new mRNAs is inhibited in the germ lineage. This inhibition requires the germline factor PIE-1, and correlates with the absence in germline blastomeres of a phosphoepitope on RNA polymerase II (RNAPII-H5). We show that PIE-1 is uniformly distributed in oocytes and newly fertilized eggs, and becomes localized asymmetrically in the late one-cell stage. To begin to dissect the mechanisms required for PIE-1 localization and inhibition of RNAPII-H5 expression, we have examined the distribution of PIE-1 and RNAPII-H5 in maternal-effect mutants that disrupt embryonic development. We find that mutants that disrupt the asymmetric divisions of germline blastomeres mislocalize PIE-1, and activate RNAPII-H5 expression in the germ lineage. In contrast, mutants that alter somatic cell identities do not affect PIE-1 localization or RNAPII-H5 expression. Our observations suggest that PIE-1 represses mRNA transcription in each germline blastomere in a concentration- dependent manner. We also show that in wild-type, and in mutants where PIE-1 is mislocalized, the cellular and subcellular distribution of PIE-1 remarkably parallels that of the P granules, suggesting that the localizations of these two germline components are coordinately regulated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)212-224
Number of pages13
JournalDevelopmental biology
Volume200
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 1998

Keywords

  • CTD phosphorylation
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Germline
  • P granules
  • PIE-1
  • RNA polymerase II
  • Transcriptional repression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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