Specification and development of the germline in Caenorhabditis elegans.

@article{citeulike:3276659, abstract = {Maternal-effect sterile (mes) genes encode maternal components that are required for establishment and development of the germline. Five such genes have been identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in one of the genes result in defects in the asymmetric division and cytoplasmic partitioning that generate the primordial germ cell P4 at the 16-24-cell stage of embryogenesis. As a result of these defects, the P4 cell is transformed into a muscle progenitor and mutant embryos develop into sterile adults with extra body muscles. Mutations in the other four mes genes do not affect formation of the germline during embryogenesis, but result in drastically reduced proliferation of the germline during post-embryonic stages and in an absence of gametes in adults. The failure to form gametes may reflect a defect in germline specification or may be a consequence of reduced germline proliferation. We are currently testing these two possibilities. In addition to the mes gene products, wild-type function of the zygotic gene glp-4 is required for normal post-embryonic proliferation of the germline. Germ cells in glp-4 mutant worms are arrested in prophase of the mitotic cell cycle and are unable to enter meiosis and form gametes. Thus, following establishment of the germ lineage in the early embryo, both maternal and zygotic gene products work in concert to promote the extensive proliferation of the germline and to enable germ cells to generate functional gametes.}, author = {Strome, S. and Garvin, C. M. and Paulsen, J. E. and Capowski, E. E. and Martin, P. R. and Beanan, M. J.}, citeulike-article-id = {3276659}, journal = {Ciba Foundation Symposium}, keywords = {c09g45, c\_elegans, caenorhabditis\_elegans, caenorhabditis\_elegans\_embryology, caenorhabditis\_elegans\_genetics, caenorhabditis\_elegans\_physiology, celegans, cytoplasmic\_granules\_physiology, elegans, f02a96, f54c13, f54f75, fertility\_genetics, gene\_expression\_regulation\_developmental, genes\_helminth, germ\_cells\_physiology, glp-1, glp-4, hermaphroditism\_genetics, mes-1, mes-2, mes-3, mes-4, mes-6, nematode, pgl-1, r06a47, reproduction, review, wormbase, y2h9a1, zk3814, zygote}, pages = {31--45}, posted-at = {2008-09-16 23:28:02}, priority = {3}, title = {Specification and development of the germline in Caenorhabditis elegans.}, url = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7835156}, volume = {182}, year = {1994} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3276659 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3276659 N2 - Maternal-effect sterile (mes) genes encode maternal components that are required for establishment and development of the germline. Five such genes have been identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in one of the genes result in defects in the asymmetric division and cytoplasmic partitioning that generate the primordial germ cell P4 at the 16-24-cell stage of embryogenesis. As a result of these defects, the P4 cell is transformed into a muscle progenitor and mutant embryos develop into sterile adults with extra body muscles. Mutations in the other four mes genes do not affect formation of the germline during embryogenesis, but result in drastically reduced proliferation of the germline during post-embryonic stages and in an absence of gametes in adults. The failure to form gametes may reflect a defect in germline specification or may be a consequence of reduced germline proliferation. We are currently testing these two possibilities. In addition to the mes gene products, wild-type function of the zygotic gene glp-4 is required for normal post-embryonic proliferation of the germline. Germ cells in glp-4 mutant worms are arrested in prophase of the mitotic cell cycle and are unable to enter meiosis and form gametes. Thus, following establishment of the germ lineage in the early embryo, both maternal and zygotic gene products work in concert to promote the extensive proliferation of the germline and to enable germ cells to generate functional gametes. JF - Ciba Foundation Symposium EP - 45 TI - Specification and development of the germline in Caenorhabditis elegans. VL - 182 SP - 31 KW - c09g45 KW - c_elegans KW - caenorhabditis_elegans KW - caenorhabditis_elegans_embryology KW - caenorhabditis_elegans_genetics KW - caenorhabditis_elegans_physiology KW - celegans KW - cytoplasmic_granules_physiology KW - elegans KW - f02a96 KW - f54c13 KW - f54f75 KW - fertility_genetics KW - gene_expression_regulation_developmental KW - genes_helminth KW - germ_cells_physiology KW - glp-1 KW - glp-4 KW - hermaphroditism_genetics KW - mes-1 KW - mes-2 KW - mes-3 KW - mes-4 KW - mes-6 KW - nematode KW - pgl-1 KW - r06a47 KW - reproduction KW - review KW - wormbase KW - y2h9a1 KW - zk3814 KW - zygote AU - Strome, S AU - Garvin, CM AU - Paulsen, JE AU - Capowski, EE AU - Martin, PR AU - Beanan, MJ PY - 1994/// UR - http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7835156 ER -