FBF-1 and FBF-2 regulate the size of the mitotic region in the C. elegans germline.
In the C. elegans germline, GLP-1/Notch signaling and two nearly identical RNA binding proteins, FBF-1 and FBF-2, promote proliferation. Here, we show that the fbf-1 and fbf-2 genes are largely redundant for promoting mitosis but that they have opposite roles in fine-tuning the size of the mitotic region. The mitotic region is smaller than normal in fbf-1 mutants but larger than normal in fbf-2 mutants. Consistent with gene-specific roles, fbf-2 expression is limited to the distal germline, while fbf-1 expression is broader. The fbf-2 gene, but apparently not fbf-1, is controlled by GLP-1/Notch signaling, and the abundance of FBF-1 and FBF-2 proteins is limited by reciprocal 3'UTR repression. We propose that the divergent fbf genes and their regulatory subnetwork enable a precise control over size of the mitotic region. Therefore, fbf-1 and fbf-2 provide a paradigm for how recently duplicated genes can diverge to fine-tune patterning during animal development.
Lamont
Liana B
LB
Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Crittenden
Sarah L
SL
Bernstein
David
D
Wickens
Marvin
M
Kimble
Judith
J
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006720:Homozygote; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017384:Sequence Deletion
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C109286:fem-3-binding protein, C elegans