title: The C. elegans glycopeptide hormone receptor ortholog, FSHR-1, regulates germline differentiation and survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mammalian glycopeptide hormone receptors (GPHRs) are key regulators of reproductive development, and their homologs are widely distributed throughout the animal kingdom. The C. elegans genome encodes a single GPHR family member, FSHR-1, which shares equal identity to the FSH, LH, and TSH receptors from mammals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because loss of fshr-1 function does not produce a visible phenotype in C. elegans, we conducted a genome-wide RNAi-feeding screen to identify genes that perform functions that overlap with those of fshr-1. This approach led to the identification of the PUF family members fbf-1 and fbf-2 (the fbfs). Whereas a weak reduction in fbf activity caused little or no discernable effect in the wild-type, an equivalent loss in the fshr-1(0) mutant background resulted in a highly penetrant germline-masculinization phenotype. Furthermore, many fshr-1(0);fbf(RNAi) animals failed to maintain a germline stem cell niche. We also show that fshr-1 and the fbfs promote germline survival and prevent apoptosis with fog-1 and fog-3 and that simultaneous loss of fshr-1 and the fbfs can override the canonical requirement for fog-1 and fog-3 in the execution of the male-germline fate. Finally, we provide evidence that FSHR-1 controls germline processes nonautonomously via the soma and that FSHR-1 acts through a canonical signaling pathway involving Galpha(s) and adenyl cyclase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate a conserved role for GPHR family receptors in controlling germline development and fertility. Our data suggest a model whereby FSHR-1 signaling acts in parallel to the known sex-determination pathway to control multiple aspects of germline development.
authors.affiliation: University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Department of Molecular Biology, Department 3944, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA.
authors.forename: Saeyoull
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Katherine W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Fay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009866:Oogenesis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C403465:FOG-3 protein, C elegans; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011962:Receptors, FSH; C109286:fem-3-binding protein, C elegans; C498431:fog-1 protein, C elegans; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins