title: Caenorhabditis elegans cog-1 locus encodes GTX/Nkx6.1 homeodomain proteins and regulates multiple aspects of reproductive system development.
abstract: The development of the reproductive system in Caenorhabditis elegans is a well-established model system for patterning and organogenesis. We report the characterization of the cog-1 gene, mutations in which cause novel phenotypes in late patterning in vulval lineages, establishment of the vulva-uterine connection, development and function of the spermathecal-uterine junction, and the development of vas deferens-proctodeal connection in the male. We positionally cloned cog-1 and found that it encodes a homeobox protein most similar to the mammalian GTX and Nkx6.1 proteins. Analysis of cog-1 transcripts revealed that cog-1 is likely a complex locus with two promoters. Two mutant alleles of cog-1 differentially affect alternative transcripts and cause different phenotypes, suggesting that the two forms of cog-1 have distinct functions in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.forename: Lily I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000201:enzymology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000201:enzymology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C491329:cog-1 protein, C elegans; D004247:DNA