RNA-binding proteins SOP-2 and SOR-1 form a novel PcG-like complex in C. elegans.
We describe the identification and characterization of a novel PcG gene in C. elegans, sor-1, which is involved in global repression of Hox genes. sor-1 encodes a novel protein with an RNA-binding activity. We provide evidence that SOR-1 and the previously identified RNA-binding protein SOP-2 may constitute an RNA-binding complex in Hox gene repression. SOR-1 and SOP-2 directly interact with each other and are colocalized in nuclear bodies. The localization of SOR-1 depends on SOP-2. Surprisingly, homologs of SOR-1 and SOP-2 are not found in other organisms, including the congeneric species C. briggsae, suggesting an unexpected lack of evolutionary constraint on an essential global gene regulatory system.
Zhang
Tingting
T
National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Sun
Yinyan
Y
Tian
E
E
Deng
Hansong
H
Zhang
Yuxia
Y
Luo
Xin
X
Cai
Qingchun
Q
Wang
Huayi
H
Chai
Jijie
J
Zhang
Hong
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C510292:SOR-1 protein, C elegans; C475806:Sop-2 protein, C elegans; C113414:mes-2 protein, C elegans; C113415:mes-6 protein, C elegans