scholarly journals The C. elegans heterochronic gene lin-28 coordinates the timing of hypodermal and somatic gonadal programs for hermaphrodite reproductive system morphogenesis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungwook Choi ◽  
Victor Ambros
Keyword(s):  
Control Cell ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Developmental Timing ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Gonad Morphology ◽  
Somatic Gonad ◽  
Heterochronic Gene ◽  
A Cell

AbstractC. elegans heterochronic genes determine the timing of expression of specific cell fates in particular stages of developing larva. However, their broader roles in coordinating developmental events across diverse tissues has been less well investigated. Here, we show that loss of lin-28, a central heterochronic regulator of hypodermal development, causes reduced fertility associated with abnormal somatic gonad morphology. In particular, the abnormal spermatheca-uterine valve morphology of lin-28(lf) hermaphrodites trap embryos in the spermatheca, which disrupts ovulation and causes embryonic lethality. The same genes that act downstream of lin-28 in the regulation of hypodermal developmental timing also act downstream of lin-28 in somatic gonad morphogenesis and fertility. Importantly, we find that hypodermal expression, but not somatic gonadal expression, of lin-28 is sufficient for restoring normal somatic gonad morphology in lin-28(lf) mutants. We propose that the abnormal somatic gonad morphogenesis of lin-28(lf) hermaphrodites results from temporal discoordination between the accelerated hypodermal development and normally timed somatic gonad development. Thus, our findings exemplify how a cell-intrinsic developmental timing program can also control cell non-autonomous signaling critical for proper development of other interacting tissues.

scholarly journals lin-35/Rb and xnp-1/ATR-X function redundantly to control somatic gonad development in C. elegans

2004 ◽  
Vol 273 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Bender ◽  
Orion Wells ◽  
David S. Fay
Keyword(s):  
Gonad Development ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Somatic Gonad

The evolution of cell lineage in nematodes

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 85-95
Author(s):  
Ralf J. Sommer ◽  
Lynn K. Carta ◽  
Paul W. Sternberg
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Equivalence Group ◽  
Vulval Development ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Somatic Gonad ◽  
Vulval Precursor Cell ◽  
P Cells

The invariant development of free-living nematodes combined with the extensive knowledge of Caenorhabditis elegans developmental biology provides an experimental system for an analysis of the evolution of developmental mechanisms. We have collected a number of new nematode species from soil samples. Most are easily cultured and their development can be analyzed at the level of individual cells using techniques standard to Caenorhabditis. So far, we have focused on differences in the development of the vulva among species of the families Rhabditidae and Panagrolaimidae. Preceding vulval development, twelve Pn cells migrate into the ventral cord and divide to produce posterior daughters [Pn.p cells] whose fates vary in a position specific manner [from P1.p anterior to P12.p posterior]. In C. elegans hermaphrodites, P(3-8).p are tripotent and form an equivalence group. These cells can express either of two vulval fates (1° or 2°) in response to a signal from the anchor cell of the somatic gonad, or a non-vulval fate (3°), resulting in a 3°-3°-2°-1°-2°-3° pattern of cell fates. Evolutionary differences in vulval development include the number of cells in the vulval equivalence group, the number of 1° cells, the number of progeny generated by each vulval precursor cell, and the position of VPCs before morphogenesis. Examples of three Rhabditidae genera have a posterior vulva in the position of P9-P11 ectoblasts. In Cruznema tripartitum, P(5-7).p form the vulva as in Caenorhabditis, but they migrate posteriorly before dividing. Induction occurs after the gonad grows posteriorly to the position of P(5-7).p cells. In two other species, Mesorhabditis sp. PS 1179 and Teratorhabditis palmarum, we have found changes in induction and competence with respect to their presumably more C. elegans-like ancestor. In Mesorhabditis, P(5-7).p form the vulva after migrating to a posterior position. However, the gonad is not required to specify the pattern of cell fates 3°-2°-1°-2°-3°. Moreover, the Pn.p cells are not equivalent in their potentials to form the vulva. A regulatory constraint in this family thus forces the same set of precursors to generate the vulva, rather than more appropriately positioned Pn.p cells.

scholarly journals Crosstalk between a Nuclear Receptor and β-Catenin Signaling Decides Cell Fates in the C. elegans Somatic Gonad

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masako Asahina ◽  
Tomas Valenta ◽  
Marie Silhankova ◽  
Vladimir Korinek ◽  
Marek Jindra
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Somatic Gonad

MyoD and the specification of muscle and non-muscle fates during postembryonic development of the C. elegans mesoderm

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (13) ◽  
pp. 2479-2488 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.D. Harfe ◽  
C.S. Branda ◽  
M. Krause ◽  
M.J. Stern ◽  
A. Fire
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Striated Muscles ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Uterine Muscle ◽  
Sex Myoblasts ◽  
A Cell

Basic-helix-loop helix factors of the myoD/myf5/ myogenin/MRF4 family have been implicated in acquisition and elaboration of muscle cell fates. Here we describe both myogenic and non-myogenic roles for the Caenorhabditis elegans member of this family (CeMyoD) in postembryonic mesodermal patterning. The postembryonic mesodermal lineage in C. elegans provides a paradigm for many of the issues in mesodermal fate specification: a single mesoblast ('M') divides to generate 14 striated muscles, 16 non-striated muscles, and two non-muscle cells. To study CeMyoD function in the M lineage, we needed to circumvent an embryonic requirement for the protein. Two approaches were used: (1) isolation of mutants that decrease CeMyoD levels while retaining viability, and (2) analysis of genetic mosaics that had lost CeMyoD in the M lineage. With either manipulation, we observed a series of cell-fate transformations affecting a subset of both striated muscles and non-muscle cells. In place of these normal fates, the affected lineages produced a number of myoblast-like cells that initially failed to differentiate, instead swelling to acquire a resemblance to sex myoblasts (M-lineage-derived precursors to non-striated uterine and vulval muscles). Like normal sex myoblasts, the ectopic myoblast-like cells were capable of migration and proliferation followed by differentiation of progeny cells into vulval and uterine muscle. Our results demonstrate a cell-intrinsic contribution of CeMyoD to specification of both non-muscle and muscle fates.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal patterns of lin-12 expression during C. elegans hermaphrodite development.

Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 513-526
Author(s):  
H A Wilkinson ◽  
I Greenwald
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
Cell Fate Specification ◽  
Lacz Reporter ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Lacz Reporter Gene ◽  
Vulval Development ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
A Cell

Abstract The lin-12 gene encodes a receptor that mediates certain cell-cell interactions during Caenorhabditis elegans development. We have examined the expression of a lin-12::lacZ reporter gene in individual cells during the development of C. elegans hermaphrodites. lin-12::lacZ is expressed in a discrete spatial and temporal pattern during development and teh lin-12::lacZ reporter gene will provide a useful marker for other studies, particularly of somatic gonadal and vulval development. In general, the cells that express lin-12:: lacZ correspond to cells whose fates are known to be altered in lin-12 mutants implying that restriction of lin-12 expression may be an important regulatory mechanism; the exceptions to this statement may reveal the cellular defects that underlie aspects of the lin-12 phenotype that have not been previously explained. For decisions that are not naturally variable, lin-12::lacZ expression does not appear to change before or upon commitment to a cell fate implying that in these cases postranscriptional regulation of lin-12 activity may control cell fate specification.

TLP-1 is an asymmetric cell fate determinant that responds to Wnt signals and controls male tail tip morphogenesis in C. elegans

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 1497-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Zhao ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
David H. A. Fitch ◽  
Michael A. Herman
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Male Tail ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Tail Tip

We have isolated mutations defining a new gene, tlp-1, that affect asymmetric cell fates and morphogenesis during the development of the C. elegans tail. tlp-1 mutations cause defects in the specification of asymmetric cell fates in the descendants of the T blast cell, whose polarity is controlled by Wnt signaling and cause abnormal male tail development leading to the formation of a posterior protrusion reminiscent of ‘leptoderan’, or pointy tailed, nematode species. In wild-type C. elegans males, which have a ‘peloderan’ or rounded tail, retraction of the tail tip hypodermis involves a temporally ordered set of cell fusions and changes in cell shape that appear to be heterochronically delayed in tlp-1 males, suggesting that subtle changes in these events can bring about evolutionary changes in morphology. tlp-1 encodes a C2H2 zinc-finger protein that is a member of the Sp family of transcription factors. A TLP-1::GFP fusion protein is expressed in the nuclei of many cells during early embryogenesis and then becomes restricted primarily to posterior cells. At hatching, it is expressed in several head neurons, the posterior intestine cells, tail hypodermal cells, the T cells and specific T-cell descendents in a pattern that suggests TLP-1 may be asymmetrically expressed during the divisions of the T cell lineage. Furthermore, the asymmetry of TLP-1 expression and function appears to be controlled by Wnt signals that control T cell polarity. These results suggest that tlp-1 encodes a transcription factor required for cellular asymmetry that functions downstream of Wnt signals that control cell polarity, as well as in cell fusion and patterning in the C. elegans tail.

scholarly journals Morphogenesis of the C. elegans hermaphrodite uterus

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 3617-3626 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.P. Newman ◽  
J.G. White ◽  
P.W. Sternberg
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Cell Fate Decision ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Anchor Cell ◽  
Fate Decision

We have undertaken electron micrographic reconstruction of the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite uterus and determined the correspondence between cells defined by their lineage history and differentiated cell types. In this organ, many cells do not move during morphogenesis and the cell lineage may function to put cells where they are needed. Differentiated uterine cell types include the toroidal ut cells that make structural epithelium, and specialized utse and uv cells that make the connection between the uterus and the vulva. A cell fate decision in which the anchor cell (AC) induces adjacent ventral uterine intermediate precursor cells to adopt the pi fate, rather than the ground state rho, has profound consequences for terminal differentiation: all pi progeny are directly involved in making the uterine-vulval connection whereas all rho progeny contribute to ut toroids or the uterine-spermathecal valve. In addition to specifying certain uterine cell fates, the AC also induces the vulva. Its multiple inductions thereby function to coordinate the connection of an internal to an external epithelium. The AC induces the pi cells and ultimately fuses with a subset of their progeny. This is an example of reciprocal cell-cell interaction that can be studied at single cell resolution. The AC is thus a transitory cell type that plays a pivotal role in organizing the morphogenesis of the uterine-vulval connection.

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