The bromodomain protein LIN-49 and trithorax-related protein LIN-59 affect development and gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans.
We have molecularly characterized the lin-49 and lin-59 genes in C. elegans, and found their products are related to Drosophila trithorax group (trx-G) proteins and other proteins implicated in chromatin remodelling. LIN-49 is structurally most similar to the human bromodomain protein BR140, and LIN-59 is most similar to the Drosophila trx-G protein ASH1. In C. elegans, lin-49 and lin-59 are required for the normal development of the mating structures of the adult male tail, for the normal morphology and function of hindgut (rectum) cells in both males and hermaphrodites and for the maintenance of structural integrity in the hindgut and egg-laying system in adults. Expression of the Hox genes egl-5 and mab-5 is reduced in lin-49 and lin-59 mutants, suggesting lin-49 and lin-59 regulate HOM-C gene expression in C. elegans as the trx-G genes do in Drosophila. lin-49 and lin-59 transgenes are expressed widely throughout C. elegans animals. Thus, in contrast to the C. elegans Polycomb group (Pc-G)-related genes mes-2 and mes-6 that function primarily in the germline, we propose lin-49 and lin-59 function in somatic development similar to the Drosophila trx-G genes.
Chamberlin
H M
HM
Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7360, USA. chamberlin.27@osu.edu
Thomas
J H
JH
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D017344:Genes, Insect; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity; D013623:Tail / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000092468:Bromodomain Containing Proteins
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C086011:BRPF1 protein, human; D000092468:Bromodomain Containing Proteins; C405023:LIN-49 protein, C elegans; C405024:LIN-59 protein, C elegans; C063460:Trl protein, Drosophila