title: Phospholipase Cepsilon regulates ovulation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Phospholipase Cepsilon (PLCepsilon) is a novel class of phosphoinositide-specific PLC with unknown physiological functions. Here, we present the first genetic analysis of PLCepsilon in an intact organism, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Ovulation in C. elegans is dependent on an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) signaling pathway activated by the receptor tyrosine kinase LET-23. We generated deletion mutants of the gene, plc-1, encoding C. elegans PLCepsilon. We observed a novel ovulation phenotype whereby oocytes are trapped in the spermatheca due to delayed dilation of the spermatheca-uterine valve. The expression of plc-1 in the adult spermatheca is consistent with its involvement in regulation of ovulation. On the other hand, we failed to observe genetic interaction of plc-1 with let-23-mediated IP(3) signaling pathway genes, suggesting a complex mechanism for control of ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan. kariya@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kariya
authors.forename: Yen Kim
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Xianlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kataoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D040461:Gene Components; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008845:Microinjections; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C085873:let-23 protein, C elegans; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; C423320:phospholipase C epsilon; C498924:plc-1 protein, C elegans