title: Cell Biology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Nucleus.
abstract: Studies on the Caenorhabditis elegans nucleus have provided fascinating insight to the organization and activities of eukaryotic cells. Being the organelle that holds the genetic blueprint of the cell, the nucleus is critical for basically every aspect of cell biology. The stereotypical development of C. elegans from a one cell-stage embryo to a fertile hermaphrodite with 959 somatic nuclei has allowed the identification of mutants with specific alterations in gene expression programs, nuclear morphology, or nuclear positioning. Moreover, the early C. elegans embryo is an excellent model to dissect the mitotic processes of nuclear disassembly and reformation with high spatiotemporal resolution. We review here several features of the C. elegans nucleus, including its composition, structure, and dynamics. We also discuss the spatial organization of chromatin and regulation of gene expression and how this depends on tight control of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Finally, the extensive connections of the nucleus with the cytoskeleton and their implications during development are described. Most processes of the C. elegans nucleus are evolutionarily conserved, highlighting the relevance of this powerful and versatile model organism to human biology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 ornacf@helix.nih.gov pask@upo.es.
authors.forename: Orna
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5682-1287
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cohen-Fix
authors.affiliation: Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucia/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain ornacf@helix.nih.gov pask@upo.es.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3192-4428
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Askjaer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins
keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; LEM-domain proteins; LINC; P granule; WormBook; chromatin; gene expression; lamin; nuclear envelope; nuclear pore complex; nucleocytoplasmic transport; nucleolus