Two C. elegans genes control the programmed deaths of specific cells in the pharynx.
The genes ces-1 and ces-2 control the decisions of two cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to undergo programmed cell death. Mutations that cause a gain of ces-1 function or a reduction of ces-2 function prevent these cells, the sisters of the two pharyngeal NSM neurons, from dying. These mutations do not affect most other cell deaths. Genetic studies indicate that ces-1 and ces-2 affect the fates of the NSM sisters by regulating the genes required for all programmed cell deaths to occur.
Ellis
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, M.I.T. Cambridge 02139.
Horvitz
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D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype