C. elegans class B synthetic multivulva genes act in G(1) regulation.
The single C. elegans member of the retinoblastoma gene family, lin-35 Rb, was originally identified as a synthetic Multivulva (synMuv) gene [1]. These genes form two redundant classes, A and B, that repress ectopic vulval cell fate induction. Recently, we demonstrated that lin-35 Rb also acts as a negative regulator of G(1) progression and likely is the major target of cyd-1 Cyclin D and cdk-4 CDK4/6. Here, we describe G(1) control functions for several other class B synMuv genes. We found that efl-1 E2F negatively regulates cell cycle entry, while dpl-1 DP appeared to act both as a positive and negative regulator. In addition, we identified a negative G(1) regulatory function for lin-9 ALY, as well as lin-15B and lin-36, which encode novel proteins. Inactivation of lin-35 Rb, efl-1, or lin-36 allowed S phase entry in the absence of cyd-1/cdk-4 and increased ectopic cell division when combined with cki-1 Cip/Kip RNAi. These data are consistent with lin-35 Rb, efl-1, and lin-36 acting in a common pathway or complex that negatively regulates G(1) progression. In contrast, lin-15B appeared to act in parallel to lin-35. Our results demonstrate the potential for genetic identification of novel G(1) regulators in C. elegans.
Boxem
Mike
M
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Building 149, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
van den Heuvel
Sander
S
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000235:genetics*; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D014844:Vulva / Q000166:cytology*