Cell-cell interactions prevent a potential inductive interaction between soma and germline in C. elegans.
In each gonadal arm of wild-type C. elegans hermaphrodites, the somatic distal tip cell (DTC) maintains distal germline nuclei in mitosis, while proximal nuclei enter meiosis. We have identified two conditions under which a proximal somatic cell, the anchor cell (AC), inappropriately maintains proximal germline nuclei in mitosis: when defined somatic gonadal cells have been ablated in wild type, and in lin-12 null mutants. Laser ablations and mosaic analysis indicate that somatic gonadal cells neighboring the AC normally require lin-12 activity to prevent the inappropriate AC-germline interaction. The AC-germline interaction, like the DTC-germline interaction, requires glp-1 activity. In one model, we propose that the AC sends an intercellular signal intended to interact with the lin-12 product in somatic gonadal cells; when lin-12 activity is absent, the signal interacts instead with the related glp-1 product in germline. Our data illustrate the importance of mechanisms that prevent inappropriate interactions during development.
Seydoux
G
G
Department of Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544.
Schedl
T
T
Greenwald
I
I
D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009030:Mosaicism; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype