Abstract
The mechanisms that specify and maintain the characteristics of germ cells during animal development are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that loss of function of the zinc-finger gene lsy-2 results in various somatic cells adopting germ cells characteristics, including expression of germline-specific P granules, enhanced RNAi activity and transgene silencing. The soma to germ transformation in lsy-2 mutants requires the activities of multiple chromatin remodeling complexes, including the MES-4 complex and the ISW-1 complex. The distinct germline-specific features in somatic cells and the gene expression profile indicate that LSY-2 acts in the Mec complex in this process. Our study demonstrated that lsy-2 functions in the maintenance of the soma-germ distinction.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
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Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Genes, Essential / genetics
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Germ Cells / metabolism*
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
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Mutation
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RNA Interference
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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ISWI protein
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Lsy-2 protein, C elegans
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Mes-4 protein, C elegans
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Transcription Factors
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Adenosine Triphosphatases