title: nhr-25, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of ftz-f1, is required for epidermal and somatic gonad development.
abstract: We have analyzed the expression and function of the Caenorhabditis elegans gene nhr-25, a member of the widely conserved FTZ-F1 family of nuclear receptors. The gene encodes two protein isoforms, only one of which has a DNA binding domain. nhr-25 is transcribed during embryonic and larval development. A nhr-25::GFP fusion gene is expressed in the epidermis, the developing somatic gonad, and a subset of other epithelial cells. RNA-mediated interference indicates a requirement for nhr-25 function during development: disruption of nhr-25 function leads to embryonic arrest due to failure of the epidermally mediated process of embryo elongation. Animals that survive to hatching arrest as misshapen larvae that occasionally exhibit defects in shedding molted cuticle. In addition, somatic gonad development is defective in these larvae. These results further establish the importance of FTZ-F1 nuclear receptors in molting and developmental control across evolutionarily distant phyla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gissendanner
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sluder
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C486359:nuclear hormone receptor NHR-25, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins