EGL-38 Pax regulates the ovo-related gene lin-48 during Caenorhabditis elegans organ development.
The Pax gene egl-38 plays an important role in the development of several organs in C. elegans. To understand how a Pax transcription factor influences distinct developmental choices in different cells and tissue types, we have characterized a second gene, lin-48. lin-48 functions with egl-38 in the development of one structure, the hindgut, but not in other tissues such as the egg-laying system. We show that lin-48 encodes a C2H2 zinc-finger protein that is similar to the product of the Drosophila gene ovo and is expressed in the hindgut cells that develop abnormally in lin-48 mutants. We present evidence that lin-48 is a target for EGL-38 in hindgut cells. We show that lin-48 requires egl-38 for its expression in the hindgut. Using deletion analysis, we have identified two elements in the lin-48 promoter that are necessary for lin-48 expression. We demonstrate that EGL-38 binds with high affinity to one of these elements. In addition, we have observed genetic interactions between mutations in the lin-48 promoter and specific alleles of egl-38. These experiments demonstrate a functional link between Pax and Ovo transcription factors, and provide a model for how Pax transcription factors can regulate different target genes in different cells.
Johnson
A D
AD
Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Fitzsimmons
D
D
Hagman
J
J
Chamberlin
H M
HM
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000196:embryology; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C434744:Lin-48 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors; C089512:ovo protein, Drosophila