Characterization of the Caenorhabditis elegans Islet LIM-homeodomain ortholog, lim-7.
lim-7 is one of seven Caenorhabditis elegans LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD)-encoding genes and the sole Islet ortholog. LIM-HD transcription factors, including Islets, function in neuronal and non-neuronal development across diverse phyla. Our results show that a lim-7 deletion allele causes early larval lethality with terminal phenotypes including uncoordination, detached pharynx, constipation and morphological defects. A lim-7(+) transgene rescues lethality but not adult sterility. A lim-7(+) reporter in the full genomic context is expressed in all gonadal sheath cells, URA neurons, and additional cells in the pharyngeal region. Finally, we identify a 45-bp regulatory element in the first intron that is necessary and sufficient for lim-7 gonadal sheath expression.
Voutev
Roumen
R
Developmental Genetics Program, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
Keating
Ryan
R
Hubbard
E Jane Albert
EJ
Vallier
Laura G
LG
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020043:Genes, Essential; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D006066:Gonads / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; C538986:Lim-7 protein, C elegans