More mog genes that influence the switch from spermatogenesis to oogenesis in the hermaphrodite germ line of Caenorhabditis elegans.
The Caenorhabditis elegans XX animal possesses a hermaphrodite germ line, producing first sperm, then oocytes. In this paper, we report the genetic identification of five genes, mog-2, mog-3, mog-4, mog-5, and mog-6, that influence the hermaphrodite switch from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. In mog-2-mog-6 mutants, spermatogenesis continues past the time at which hermaphrodites normally switch into oogenesis and no oocytes are observed. Therefore, in these mutants, germ cells are transformed from a female fate (oocyte) to a male fate (sperm). The fem-3 gene is one of five genes that acts at the end of the germline sex determination pathway to direct spermatogenesis. Analyses of mog;fem-3 double mutants suggest that the mog-2-mog-6 genes act before fem-3; thus these genes may be in a position to negatively regulate fem-3 or one of the other terminal regulators of germline sex determination. Double mutants of fem-3 and any one of the mog mutations make oocytes. Using these double mutants, we show that oocytes from any mog;fem-3 double mutant are defective in their ability to support embryogenesis. This maternal effect lethality indicates that each of the mog genes is required for embryogenesis. The two defects in mog-2-mog-6 mutants are similar to those of mog-1: all six mog genes eliminate the sperm/oocyte switch in hermaphrodites and cause maternal effect lethality. We propose that the mog-2-mog-6 mutations identify genes that act with mog-1 to effect the sperm/oocyte switch. We further speculate that the mog-1-mog-6 mutations all interfere with translational controls of fem-3 and other maternal mRNAs.
Graham
P L
PL
Department of CMS Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
Schedl
T
T
Kimble
J
J
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D008297:Male; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013696:Temperature