The C. elegans E2F- and DP-related proteins are required for embryonic asymmetry and negatively regulate Ras/MAPK signaling.
Early C. elegans embryos exhibit protein asymmetries that allow rapid diversification of cells. Establishing these asymmetries requires the novel protein MEX-5. We show that mutations in the efl-1 and dpl-1 genes cause defects in protein localization resembling defects caused by mutations in mex-5. efl-1 and dpl-1 encode homologs of vertebrate E2F and DP proteins that regulate transcription as a heterodimer. efl-1 and dpl-1 mutants have elevated levels of activated Map kinase in oocytes. Their mutant phenotype and that of mex-5 mutants can be suppressed by reducing Ras/Map kinase signaling. We propose this signaling pathway has a role in embryonic asymmetry and that EFL-1/DPL-1 control the level of Map kinase activation.
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Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. bpage@fred.fhcrc.org
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D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019281:Dimerization; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000235:genetics; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009030:Mosaicism / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010060:Ovulation / Q000235:genetics; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C410587:MEX-5 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors; C493765:efl-1 protein, C elegans; C073702:skn-1 protein, C elegans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins