The bZip proteins CES-2 and ATF-2 alter the timing of transcription for a cell-specific target gene in C. elegans.
The Caenorhabditis elegans basic leucine zipper (bZip) protein CES-2 regulates the transcription of different genes in different cells. Here, we show that CES-2 mediates its effects in one cell (the excretory duct cell) together with another bZip protein, ATF-2. Both proteins influence transactivation of a target gene, lin-48. Although lin-48 is required for both anatomical and physiological features of the excretory duct cell, ces-2 and atf-2 mutants only exhibit anatomical defects. We show that CES-2 and ATF-2 modify the temporal transcription of lin-48, acting to initiate embryonic expression required for normal excretory system development and anatomy. In contrast, CES-2 and ATF-2 do not influence post-embryonic lin-48 expression. We provide evidence that CES-2 and ATF-2 can interact with each other, and that they cooperate to form a complex on lin-48 regulatory sequences. Thus, the two bZip proteins function together as one of several inputs that influence the spatial and temporal regulation of lin-48.
Wang
Xiaodong
X
Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, 938 Biological Sciences Building, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, 43210, USA.
Jia
Hongtao
H
Chamberlin
Helen M
HM
D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D019076:Transgenes
D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; C100663:CES-2 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C434744:Lin-48 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors