A Forward Genetic Screen for Suppressors of Somatic P Granules in Caenorhabditis elegans

G3 (Bethesda). 2015 Jun 22;5(10):2209-15. doi: 10.1534/g3.115.019257.

Abstract

In Caenorhabditis elegans, germline expression programs are actively repressed in somatic tissue by components of the synMuv (synthetic multi-vulva) B chromatin remodeling complex, which include homologs of tumor suppressors Retinoblastoma (Rb/LIN-35) and Malignant Brain Tumor (MBT/LIN-61). However, the full scope of pathways that suppress germline expression in the soma is unknown. To address this, we performed a mutagenesis and screened for somatic expression of GFP-tagged PGL-1, a core P-granule nucleating protein. Eight alleles were isolated from 4000 haploid genomes. Five of these alleles exhibit a synMuv phenotype, whereas the remaining three were identified as hypomorphic alleles of known synMuv B genes, lin-13 and dpl-1. These findings suggest that most suppressors of germline programs in the soma of C. elegans are either required for viability or function through synMuv B chromatin regulation.

Keywords: C. elegans; P granules; germline; retinoblastoma; synMuv B.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Germ Cells
  • Mutation
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • PGL-1 protein, C elegans
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins