MEX-5 and MEX-6 function to establish soma/germline asymmetry in early C. elegans embryos

Charlotte M. Schubert, Rueyling Lin, Corry J. De Vries, Ronald H A Plasterk, James R. Priess

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

192 Scopus citations

Abstract

An asymmetrical network of cortically localized PAR proteins forms shortly after fertilization of the C. elegans egg. This network is required for subsequent asymmetries in the expression patterns of several proteins that are encoded by nonlocalized, maternally expressed mRNAs. We provide evidence that two nearly identical genes, mex-5 and mex-6, link PAR asymmetry to those subsequent protein asymmetries. MEX-5 is a novel, cytoplasmic protein that is localized through PAR activities to the anterior pole of the 1-cell stage embryo. MEX-5 localization is reciprocal to that of a group of posterior-localized proteins called germline proteins. Ectopic expresion of MEX-5 is sufficient to inhibit the expression of germline proteins, suggesting that MEX-5 functions to inhibit anterior expression of the germline proteins.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)671-682
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular cell
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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