MIG-32 and SPAT-3A are PRC1 homologs that control neuronal migration in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The Polycomb repression complex 2 (PRC2) methylates histone H3 lysine 27 at target genes to modify gene expression, and this mark is recognized by PRC1, which ubiquitylates histone H2A. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a complex of the MES-2, MES-3 and MES-6 proteins is functionally analogous to the PRC2 complex, but the functional analog of PRC1, and indeed whether C. elegans has such a complex, has been unclear. We describe here that MIG-32 and SPAT-3A are functional analogs of PRC1 in C. elegans, where they are required for neuronal migrations and during vulval development. mig-32 and spat-3 mutants are defective in H2A ubiquitylation, and have nervous system defects that partially overlap with those of mes mutants. However, unlike the mes mutants, mig-32 and spat-3 mutants are fertile, suggesting that PRC1 function is not absolutely required in the germline for essential functions of PRC2.
Karakuzu
Ozgur
O
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Wang
David P
DP
Cameron
Scott
S
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*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D054875:Ubiquitination
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006657:Histones; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C540804:MIG-32 protein, C elegans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C540805:SPAT-3 protein, C elegans