The C. elegans RUNX transcription factor RNT-1/MAB-2 is required for asymmetrical cell division of the T blast cell

Dev Biol. 2005 Nov 15;287(2):262-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2005.08.034. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Abstract

The RUNX genes encode conserved transcription factors, which play vital roles in the development of various animals and human diseases. Drosophila runt is a secondary pair-rule gene, which regulates embryo segmentation. Human RUNX1, previously known as AML1, is essential for hematopoiesis. C. elegans rnt-1 is co-orthologous to the human RUNX genes. We found that RNT-1Colon, two colonsGFP is expressed in the H0-2, V1-6, and T blast cells in the embryo, and predominantly in the seam cells during larval to adult stages. rnt-1 mutants exhibit a loss of polarity in the asymmetrical T cell division in hermaphrodites and abnormal ray morphology in the male tail. Genetic and molecular analysis revealed that rnt-1 is allelic to mab-2. Mutant analysis suggested that rnt-1/mab-2 is involved in regulating T blast cell polarity in cooperation with the Wnt signaling pathway. Expression studies of GFPColon, two colonsPOP-1 and TLP-1Colon, two colonsGFP reporters in rnt-1/mab-2 mutants indicated that this gene functions upstream of tlp-1 and downstream, or in parallel to, pop-1 in the genetic cascade that controls asymmetry of the T cell division. All our data suggest that RNT-1/MAB-2 functions with POP-1 to control the asymmetry of the T cell division.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Polarity / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Disorders of Sex Development
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / metabolism
  • Larva
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Tail / anatomy & histology
  • Tail / embryology
  • Tail / growth & development
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • High Mobility Group Proteins
  • RNT-1 protein, C elegans
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • TLP-1 protein, Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Transcription Factors
  • pop-1 protein, C elegans