title: Gem-1 encodes an SLC16 monocarboxylate transporter-related protein that functions in parallel to the gon-2 TRPM channel during gonad development in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The gon-2 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a TRPM cation channel required for gonadal cell divisions. In this article, we demonstrate that the gonadogenesis defects of gon-2 loss-of-function mutants (including a null allele) can be suppressed by gain-of-function mutations in the gem-1 (gon-2 extragenic modifier) locus. gem-1 encodes a multipass transmembrane protein that is similar to SLC16 family monocarboxylate transporters. Inactivation of gem-1 enhances the gonadogenesis defects of gon-2 hypomorphic mutations, suggesting that these two genes probably act in parallel to promote gonadal cell divisions. GEM-1GFP is expressed within the gonadal precursor cells and localizes to the plasma membrane. Therefore, we propose that GEM-1 acts in parallel to the GON-2 channel to promote cation uptake within the developing gonad.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Benedict J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatzold
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conradt
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lambie
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D006066:Gonads / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018509:DNA, Helminth; C487576:GON-2 protein, C elegans; C540593:Gem-1 protein, C elegans; D007473:Ion Channels; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D002118:Calcium