title: TEG-1 CD2BP2 regulates stem cell proliferation and sex determination in the C. elegans germ line and physically interacts with the UAF-1 U2AF65 splicing factor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For a stem cell population to exist over an extended period, a balance must be maintained between self-renewing (proliferating) and differentiating daughter cells. Within the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line, this balance is controlled by a genetic regulatory pathway, which includes the canonical Notch signaling pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genetic screens identified the gene teg-1 as being involved in regulating the proliferation versus differentiation decision in the C. elegans germ line. Cloning of TEG-1 revealed that it is a homolog of mammalian CD2BP2, which has been implicated in a number of cellular processes, including in U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP formation in the pre-mRNA splicing reaction. The position of teg-1 in the genetic pathway regulating the proliferation versus differentiation decision, its single mutant phenotype, and its enrichment in nuclei, all suggest TEG-1 also functions as a splicing factor. TEG-1, as well as its human homolog, CD2BP2, directly bind to UAF-1 U2AF65, a component of the U2 auxiliary factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEG-1 functions as a splicing factor and acts to regulate the proliferation versus meiosis decision. The interaction of TEG-1 CD2BP2 with UAF-1 U2AF65, combined with its previously described function in U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, suggests that TEG-1 CD2BP2 functions in two distinct locations in the splicing cascade.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Alberta, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson-Berry
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schedl
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000483:Alleles; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D000072668:Splicing Factor U2AF; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C120378:CD2BP2 protein, human; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000072668:Splicing Factor U2AF; C573644:TEG-1 protein, C elegans; C000607494:U2AF2 protein, human; C486185:UAF-1 protein, C elegans