Genetic interactions affecting touch sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
At least 13 genes (mec-1, mec-2, mec-4-10, mec-12, mec-14, mec-15, and mec-18) are needed for the response to gentle touch by 6 touch receptor neurons in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Several, otherwise recessive alleles of some of these genes act as dominant enhancer mutations of temperature-sensitive alleles of mec-4, mec-5, mec-6, mec-12, and mec-15. Screens for additional dominant enhancers of mec-4 and mec-5 yielded mutations in previously known genes. In addition, some mec-7 alleles showed allele-specific, dominant suppression of the mec-15 touch-insensitive (Mec) phenotype. The dominant enhancement and suppression exhibited by these mutations suggest that the products of several touch genes interact. These results are consistent with a model, supported by the known sequences of these genes, that almost all of the touch function genes contribute to the mechanosensory apparatus.
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Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Caldwell
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GA
Chalfie
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D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D015398:Signal Transduction