CGC Bibliography Paper 5566

GLD-3, a Bicaudal-C homolog that inhibits FBF to control germline sex determination in C. elegans.

Eckmann CR, Kraemer B, Wickens M, Kimble J

Medline:

12431376

Citation:

Developmental Cell 3: 697-710 2002

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

bcc-1 fbf-1 fbf-2 fem-3 fog-1 gld-3 glp-4 rde-1 smg-4 mnDf30 mnDf108

Abstract:

The FBF RNA binding proteins control multiple aspects of C. elegans germline development, including sex determination. FBF promotes the oocyte fate at the expense of spermatogenesis by binding a regulatory element in the fem-3 3'UTR and repressing this sex-determining gene. Here we report the discovery of GLD-3, a Bicaudal-C homolog and cytoplasmic protein that physically interacts with FBF. Using RNAi and a gld-3 deletion mutant, we show that GLD-3 promotes the sperm fate, a sex determination effect opposite to that of FBF. By epistasis analysis, GLD-3 acts upstream of FBF, and, in a yeast three-hybrid assay, GLD-3 interferes specifically with FBF binding to the fem-3 3'UTR. We propose that GLD-3 binds FBF and thereby inhibits its repression of target mRNAs.