Abstract
Totipotent germline blastomeres in Caenorhabditis elegans contain, but do not respond to, factors that promote somatic differentiation in other embryonic cells. Mutations in the maternal gene pie-I result in the germline blastomeres adopting somatic cell fates. Here we show that pie-1 encodes a nuclear protein, PIE-I, that is localized to the germline blastomeres throughout early development. During division of each germline blastomere, PIE-1 initially associates with both centrosomes of the mitotic spindle. However, PIE-1 rapidly disappears from the centrosome destined for the somatic daughter, and persists in the centrosome of the daughter that becomes the next germline blastomere. The PIE-1 protein contains potential zinc- finger motifs also found in the mammalian growth-factor response protein TIS- 11/NUP475. The localization and genetic properties pie-1 provide an example of a repressor-based mechanism for preserving pluripotency within a stem cell lineage.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 710-712 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Volume | 382 |
| Issue number | 6593 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General
Cite this
The PIE-1 protein and germline specification in C. elegans embryos. / Mello, C. C.; Schubert, C.; Draper, B.; Zhang, W.; Lobel, R.; Priess, J. R.
In: Nature, Vol. 382, No. 6593, 1996, p. 710-712.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The PIE-1 protein and germline specification in C. elegans embryos
AU - Mello, C. C.
AU - Schubert, C.
AU - Draper, B.
AU - Zhang, W.
AU - Lobel, R.
AU - Priess, J. R.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Totipotent germline blastomeres in Caenorhabditis elegans contain, but do not respond to, factors that promote somatic differentiation in other embryonic cells. Mutations in the maternal gene pie-I result in the germline blastomeres adopting somatic cell fates. Here we show that pie-1 encodes a nuclear protein, PIE-I, that is localized to the germline blastomeres throughout early development. During division of each germline blastomere, PIE-1 initially associates with both centrosomes of the mitotic spindle. However, PIE-1 rapidly disappears from the centrosome destined for the somatic daughter, and persists in the centrosome of the daughter that becomes the next germline blastomere. The PIE-1 protein contains potential zinc- finger motifs also found in the mammalian growth-factor response protein TIS- 11/NUP475. The localization and genetic properties pie-1 provide an example of a repressor-based mechanism for preserving pluripotency within a stem cell lineage.
AB - Totipotent germline blastomeres in Caenorhabditis elegans contain, but do not respond to, factors that promote somatic differentiation in other embryonic cells. Mutations in the maternal gene pie-I result in the germline blastomeres adopting somatic cell fates. Here we show that pie-1 encodes a nuclear protein, PIE-I, that is localized to the germline blastomeres throughout early development. During division of each germline blastomere, PIE-1 initially associates with both centrosomes of the mitotic spindle. However, PIE-1 rapidly disappears from the centrosome destined for the somatic daughter, and persists in the centrosome of the daughter that becomes the next germline blastomere. The PIE-1 protein contains potential zinc- finger motifs also found in the mammalian growth-factor response protein TIS- 11/NUP475. The localization and genetic properties pie-1 provide an example of a repressor-based mechanism for preserving pluripotency within a stem cell lineage.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029815260&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029815260&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/382710a0
DO - 10.1038/382710a0
M3 - Article
C2 - 8751440
AN - SCOPUS:0029815260
VL - 382
SP - 710
EP - 712
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
IS - 6593
ER -