Polycomb-like genes are necessary for specification of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of neurons with defined neurotransmitters are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the PcG-like genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, sop-2 and sor-3, regulate the formation of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons and several other neuronal properties. sor-3 encodes a novel protein containing an MBT repeat, a domain that contains histone-binding activity and is present in PcG proteins SCM and Sfmbt in other organisms. We further show that mutations in sor-3 lead to ectopic expression of Hox genes and cause homeotic transformations. Specification of certain neuronal identities by these PcG-like genes appears to involve regulation of non-Hox gene targets. Our studies revealed that the PcG-like genes are crucial for coordinately regulating the expression of discrete aspects of neuronal identities in C. elegans.
Yang
Yong
Y
National Institute of Biological Sciences, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, No. 7 Science Park Road, Beijing 102206, People's Republic of China.
Sun
Yinyan
Y
Luo
Xin
X
Zhang
Yuxia
Y
Chen
Yaoyao
Y
Tian
E
E
Lints
Robyn
R
Zhang
Hong
H
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016346:Gene Products, vif / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C477318:Egl-5 protein, C elegans; D016346:Gene Products, vif; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C475806:Sop-2 protein, C elegans; C517395:Sor-3 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C108673:lin-39 protein, C elegans; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine