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The Caenorhabditis elegans lin-15 locus

Citation

Huang, Linda S. (1995) The Caenorhabditis elegans lin-15 locus. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/pat7-8d95. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10092007-135940

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document.

In the nematode [...], vulval development involves an inductive signalling event mediated by the LIN-3 growth factor and the LET-23 receptor tyrosine kinase. The LIN-3 growth factor is sent from the anchor cell, a cell in the somatic gonad, to the six multipotent vulval precursor cells (VPCs) in the ventral epidermis. Lack of the signal leads to none of the six VPCs adopting vulval fates. The [...] locus is a negative regulator of [...] mediated signalling; animals carrying loss-of function mutations in [...] have excessive vulval differentiation. Mosaic studies demonstrate this negative regulation to occur non-autonomously. Furthermore, the [...] locus has two genetically defined functions, A and B. These A and B functions are shared by other loci with these functions, defining two distinct pathways for negative regulation. The A and B functions are redundant because animals defective in only one function display the wild-type phenotype; only animals defective in both A and B function display the excessive vulval differentiation phenotype.

This thesis describes the molecular and genetic analysis of the [...] locus. The lin-15 locus was cloned based on its genetic map position. The two functions of lin-15 are due to two transcripts comprising the [...] locus, one transcript corresponding to the A function, the other, the B function. These two transcripts are transcribed in the same direction, separated by 105 base pairs, and possibly transcribed polycistronically. The predicted proteins coded for by both transcripts are novel and hydrophilic. Antibodies raised against the LIN-15B protein show that LIN-15B is a 170 kD protein that is localized to the nucleus and broadly expressed. Genetic studies demonstrate that [...] acts upstream of the receptor and in parallel to the inductive signal. When a [...] null allele is used to modulate signalling through weakly functioning LET-23 receptors, we see that the activity of the receptor can be correlated to the type of vulval fate specified.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Biology
Major Option:Biology
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Sternberg, Paul W.
Thesis Committee:
  • Sternberg, Paul W. (chair)
  • Anderson, David J.
  • Meyerowitz, Elliot M.
  • Davidson, Eric H.
  • Zinn, Kai George
Defense Date:11 May 1995
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-10092007-135940
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-10092007-135940
DOI:10.7907/pat7-8d95
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:4001
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:25 Oct 2007
Last Modified:16 Apr 2021 22:10

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