title: ifet-1 is a broad-scale translational repressor required for normal P granule formation in C. elegans.
abstract: Large cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein germ granule complexes are a common feature in germ cells. In C. elegans these are called P granules and for much of the life-cycle they associate with nuclear pore complexes in germ cells. P granules are rich in proteins that function in diverse RNA pathways. Here we report that the C. elegans homolog of the eIF4E-transporter IFET-1 is required for oogenesis but not spermatogenesis. We show that IFET-1 is required for translational repression of several maternal mRNAs in the distal gonad and functions in conjunction with the broad-scale translational regulators CGH-1, CAR-1 and PATR-1 to regulate germ cell sex determination. Furthermore we have found that IFET-1 localizes to P granules throughout the gonad and in the germ cell lineage in the embryo. Interestingly, IFET-1 is required for the normal ultrastructure of P granules and for the localization of CGH-1 and CAR-1 to P granules. Our findings suggest that IFET-1 is a key translational regulator and is required for normal P granule formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Madhu S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Wai Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Hyun-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traven
authors.forename: Traude H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Beilharz
authors.forename: Monica P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Colaiácovo
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schisa
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Boag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism*; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / Q000235:genetics; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D021381:Protein Transport; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C506963:Car-1 protein, C elegans; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; C583858:IFET-1 protein, C elegans; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; C490618:cgh-1 protein, C elegans