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) |
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Pages (from-to) | 710-712 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 382 |
Issue number | 6593 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General