Abstract
We used DNA microarrays to profile gene expression patterns in the C. elegans germline and identified 1416 germline-enriched transcripts that define three groups. The sperm-enriched group contains an unusually large number of protein kinases and phosphatases. The oocyte-enriched group includes potentially new components of embryonic signaling pathways. The germline-intrinsic group, defined as genes expressed similarly in germlines making only sperm or only oocytes, contains a family of piwi-related genes that may be important for stem cell proliferation. Finally, examination of the chromosomal location of germline transcripts revealed that sperm-enriched and germline-intrinsic genes are nearly absent from the X chromosome, but oocyte-enriched genes are not.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Argonaute Proteins
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Helminth Proteins / genetics
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Male
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Oocytes / physiology*
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Proteins / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
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Receptors, Notch
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Spermatogenesis / genetics
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Spermatozoa / physiology*
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X Chromosome
Substances
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Argonaute Proteins
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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FEM-1 protein, C elegans
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Helminth Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Mom-5 protein, C elegans
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PRG-1 protein, C elegans
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PRG-2 protein, C elegans
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Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
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Receptors, Notch
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WRM-1 protein, C elegans
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fem-3 protein, C elegans
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mom-1 protein, C elegans
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piwi protein, Drosophila