CGC Bibliography Paper 5611

LIN-39/Hox triggers cell division and represses EFF-1/fusogen-dependent vulval cell fusion.

Shemer G, Podbilewicz B

Medline:

12502736

Citation:

Genes & Development 16: 3136-3141 2002

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

ceh-20 eff-1 lin-39

Abstract:

General mechanisms by which Hox genes establish cell fates are known. However, a few Hox effectors mediating cell behaviors have been identified. Here we found the first effector of LIN-39/HoxD4/Dfd in Caenorhabditis elegans. In specific vulval precursor cells (VPCs), LIN-39 represses early and late expression of EFF-1, a membrane protein essential for cell fusion. Repression of eff-1 is also achieved by the activity of CEH-20/Exd/Pbx, a known cofactor of Hox proteins. Unfused VPCs in lin-39(-),eff-1(-) double mutants fail to divide but migrate, executing vulval fates. Thus, Bn-39 is essential for inhibition of EFF-1-dependent cell fusion and stimulation of cell proliferation during vulva formation.