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The diverse functions of germline P‐granules in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Voronina Ekaterina
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22136
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , germline , stress granule , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , granule (geology) , germ cell , mutant , genetics , phenotype , caenorhabditis , biogenesis , gene , paleontology , translation (biology) , messenger rna
P‐granules are conserved cytoplasmic organelles, similar to nuage, that are present in Caenorhabditis elegans germ cells. Based on the prevailing sterility phenotype of the component mutants, P‐granules have been seen as regulators of germ cell development and function. Yet, specific germline defects resulting from P‐granule failure vary, depending on which component(s) are inactivated, at which stage of development, as well as on the presence of stress factors during animal culture. This review discusses the unifying themes in many P‐granule functions, with the main focus on their role as organizing centers nucleating RNA regulation in the germ cell cytoplasm. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80:624–631, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .