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The C. elegans MELK ortholog PIG-1 regulates cell size asymmetry and daughter cell fate in asymmetric neuroblast divisions
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The C. elegans MELK ortholog PIG-1 regulates cell size asymmetry and daughter cell fate in asymmetric neuroblast divisions

Shaun Cordes, C Andrew Frank and Gian Garriga
Development (Cambridge), Vol.133(14), pp.2747-2756
07/2006
DOI: 10.1242/dev.02447
PMID: 16774992
url
https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.02447View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, neurons are generated from asymmetric divisions in which a mother cell divides to produce daughters that differ in fate. Here, we demonstrate that the gene pig-1 regulates the asymmetric divisions of neuroblasts that divide to produce an apoptotic cell and either a neural precursor or a neuron. In pig-1 mutants, these neuroblasts divide to produce daughters that are more equal in size, and their apoptotic daughters are transformed into their sisters, leading to the production of extra neurons. PIG-1 is orthologous to MELK, a conserved member of the polarity-regulating PAR-1/Kin1/SAD-1 family of serine/threonine kinases. Although MELK has been implicated in regulating the cell cycle, our data suggest that PIG-1, like other PAR-1 family members, regulates cell polarity.
Cell Polarity Animals, Genetically Modified Humans Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism Neurons - cytology Phylogeny Caenorhabditis elegans - embryology Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics Cell Division - physiology Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism Cell Lineage Animals Caenorhabditis elegans - cytology Cell Shape Neurons - physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism Apoptosis

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