Caenorhabditis elegans FOS-1 and JUN-1 regulate plc-1 expression in the spermatheca to control ovulation.
Fos and Jun are components of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and play crucial roles in the regulation of many cellular, developmental, and physiological processes. Caenorhabditis elegans fos-1 has been shown to act in uterine and vulval development. Here, we provide evidence that C. elegans fos-1 and jun-1 control ovulation, a tightly regulated rhythmic program in animals. Knockdown of fos-1 or jun-1 blocks dilation of the distal spermathecal valve, a critical step for the entry of mature oocytes into the spermatheca for fertilization. Furthermore, fos-1 and jun-1 regulate the spermathecal-specific expression of plc-1, a gene that encodes a phospholipase C (PLC) isozyme that is rate-limiting for inositol triphosphate production and ovulation, and overexpression of PLC-1 rescues the ovulation defect in fos-1(RNAi) worms. Unlike fos-1, regulation of ovulation by jun-1 requires genetic interactions with eri-1 and lin-15B, which are involved in the RNA interference pathway and chromatin remodeling, respectively. At least two isoforms of jun-1 are coexpressed with fos-1b in the spermatheca, and different AP-1 dimers formed between these isoforms have distinct effects on the activation of a reporter gene. These findings uncover a novel role for FOS-1 and JUN-1 in the reproductive system and establish C. elegans as a model for studying AP-1 dimerization.
Hiatt
Susan M
SM
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Duren
Holli M
HM
Shyu
Y John
YJ
Ellis
Ronald E
RE
Hisamoto
Naoki
N
Matsumoto
Kunihiro
K
Kariya
Ken-Ichi
K
Kerppola
Tom K
TK
Hu
Chang-Deng
CD
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C520083:FOS-1 protein, C elegans; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; C498924:plc-1 protein, C elegans