Open AccessGenetics of intercellular signalling in C. elegans.
Author(s) -
Judith Austin,
Eleanor M. Maine,
Judith Kimble
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
syracuse university libraries (syracuse university)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.107.supplement.53
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , genetics , intracellular , signalling , evolutionary biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene
Cell–cell interactions play a significant role in controlling cell fate during development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It has been found that two genes, glp-1 and lin-12, are required for many of these decisions, glp-1 is required for induction of mitotic proliferation in the germline by the somatic distal tip cell and for induction of the anterior pharynx early in embryogenesis. lin-12 is required for the interactions between cells of equivalent developmental potential, which allow them to take on different fates. Comparison of these two genes on a molecular level indicates that they are similar in sequence and organization, suggesting that the mechanisms of these two different sets of cell–cell interactions are similar.