ISSN:
0192-253X
Keywords:
Sex determination
;
translational control
;
germ line
;
C. elegans
;
mog genes
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Genetics
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
The Caenorhobditis elegans XX animal possesses a hermaphrodite germ line, producing first sperm, then oocytes. In this paper, we report the genetic identification of five genes, mog-2, mog-3, mog-4, mog-5, and mog-6, that influence the hermaphrodite switch from sper-matogenesis to oogenesis. In mcg-2-mog-6 mutants, spermatogenesis continues past the time at which hermaphrodites normally switch into oogenesis and no oocytes are observed. Therefore, in these mutants, germ cells are transformed from a female fate (oocyte) to a male fate (sperm). The fem-3 gene is one of five genes that acts at the end of the germline sex determination pathway to direct spermatogenesis. Analyses of mog;fem-3 double mutants suggest that the mog-2-mog-6 genes act before fem-3; thus these genes may be in a position to negatively regulate fem-3 or one of the other terminal regulators of germline sex determination. Double mutants of fem-3 and any one of the mog mutations make oocytes. Using these double mutants, we show that oocytes from any mog;fem-3 double mutant are defective in their ability to support embryogenesis. This maternal effect lethality indicates that each of the mog genes is required for embryogenesis. The two defects in mog-2-mog-6 mutants are similar to those of mog-1: all six mog genes eliminate the sperm/oocyte switch in hermaphrodites and cause maternal effect lethality. We propose that the mog-2-mog-6 mutations identify genes that act with mog-1 to effect the sperm/oocyte switch. We further speculate that the mog-1-mog-6 mutations all interfere with translational controls of fem-3 and other maternal mRNAs. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
6 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dvg.1020140608
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