Regulation of the Caenorhabditis elegans posterior Hox gene egl-5 by microRNA and the polycomb-like gene sop-2.
In Caenorhabditis elegans, the domains of Hox gene expression are controlled by the novel global regulatory gene sop-2. We identified a region located 3' of the Hox gene egl-5 that promotes ectopic expression of an egl-5 reporter gene in a sop-2 mutant. SOP-2 could directly block positive regulatory factors acting in this region, or it could block their expression. We identified three possible miRNA binding sites within the egl-5 3' untranslated region (UTR). Cognate microRNAs are expressed in relevant tissues and can block egl-5 expression when expressed from a transgene. Mutation of the putative binding sites in the egl-5 3'UTR resulted in a modest degree of misexpression of a minimal egl-5 reporter gene, suggesting that microRNAs may contribute to the tight restriction of egl-5 expression to particular cell lineages.
Zhang
Hongjie
H
Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Emmons
Scott W
SW
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C477318:Egl-5 protein, C elegans; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C475806:Sop-2 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA