Genetic analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans MAP kinase gene mpk-1.
The Caenorhabditis elegans mpk-1 gene encodes a MAP kinase protein that plays an important role in Ras-mediated induction of vulval cell fates. We show that mutations that eliminate mpk-1 activity result in a highly penetrant, vulvaless phenotype. A double mutant containing a gain-of-function mpk-1 mutation and a gain-of-function mek mutation (MEK phosphorylates and activates MPK-1) exhibits a multivulva phenotype. These results suggest that mpk-1 may transduce most or all of the anchor cell signal. Epistasis analysis suggests that mpk-1 acts downstream of mek-2 (encodes a MEK homolog) and upstream of lin-1 (encodes an Ets transcription factor) in the anchor cell signaling pathway. Finally, mpk-1 may act together with let-60 ras in multiple developmental processes, as mpk-1 mutants exhibit nearly the same range of developmental phenotypes as let-60 ras mutants.
Lackner
M R
MR
Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5329, USA.
Kim
S K
SK
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017931:DNA Primers; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D010641:Phenotype; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066646:let-60 protein, C elegans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; C085697:mpk-1 protein, C elegans; D018631:ras Proteins