The Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the putative prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2, hoe-1, plays a role in germline proliferation.
The potential prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2 has a Caenorhabditis elegans homolog (which we call hoe-1, for homolog of ELAC2). We have explored the biological role of this gene using RNAi to reduce gene activity. We found that worms subjected to hoe-1 RNAi are slow-growing and sterile. The sterility results from a drastic reduction in germline proliferation and cell-cycle arrest of germline nuclei. We found that hoe-1 is required for hyperproliferation phenotypes seen with mutations in three different genes, suggesting hoe-1 may be generally required for germline proliferation. We also found that reduction of hoe-1 by RNAi suppresses the multivulva (Muv) phenotype resulting from activating mutations in ras and that this suppression is likely to be indirect. This is the first demonstration of a biological role for this class of proteins in a complex eukaryote and adds important information when considering the role of ELAC2 in prostate cancer.
Smith
Marsha M
MM
Department of Functional Genomics/Discovery Technologies, Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
Levitan
Diane J
DJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005854:Germ Cells; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C498895:hoe-1 protein, C elegans; D012313:RNA