Zetka M-C et al. (1993) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Mapping of the rec-1 Mutation"

Rose AM, Zetka M-C

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1993]

MAPPING OF THE rec-1 MUTATION Monique-Claire Zetka and Ann M. Rose, Dept. of Medical Genetics, 6174 University Blvd., University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., V6T lZ3.

Karine Gouget et al. (2002) Worm Breeder's Gazette "C.elegans as a model to study human diseases linked to the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II"

You-Fang Zhou, Mose Pinto, Karine Gouget, Monique Bolotin-Fukuhara, Emmanuel Culetto

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 2002]

The mitochondria play a critical role in the cellular energy supply and perform other essential roles in a variety of metabolic functions. The mitochondria electron transport respiratory chain (MRC) is typically composed of four multi-subunit enzymes (complexes I to IV) and the ATP synthase (complex V). Complex II is involved in both the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and the aerobic respiratory chains of mitochondria. It consists of 4 nuclear-encoded polypeptides: the flavoprotein (Fp/ SDHA), an iron-sulphur protein (Ip/ SDHB) and two integral membrane proteins (SDHC and SDHD). Clinically, complex II deficiency associated with SDHA gene mutations can result in myopathy, encephalopathy and isolated cardiomyopathy. Recently, the analysis of the susceptibility gene for familial paraganglioma syndrome revealed germ line mutations in the SDHB, SDHC and SDHD genes. Those genes are therefore considered to be tumor-suppressor genes. One can speculate that oxidative damage or ROS recycling dysfunction from impaired complex II could be important in explaining the damage to muscle and nerve cells. The molecular basis of such MRC enzyme deficiencies in humans remains largely unknown (1).

Wolfgang Maier et al. (2006) European Worm Meeting "Identification of Genes Involved in the Neural Regulation of Lifespan"

Martin Regenass, Joy Alcedo, Wolfgang Maier, Monique Thomas

[European Worm Meeting, 2006]

Wolfgang Maier, Martin Regenass, Monique Thomas and Joy Alcedo. Aging is influenced by several factors, which include the environment of the animal. For example, mutations that impair sensory function extend the lifespan of C. elegans, which suggests that lifespan, of at least this animal, is regulated by the perception of environmental cues (1). Specific sensory neurons appear to regulate lifespan, at least in part, through the insulin/IGF-1 pathway (1, 2). Since several putative insulin-like ligands are also expressed in these neurons (3), it is possible that an environmental signal(s) sensed by these neurons regulates the production of these ligands. To elucidate further the molecular mechanisms of the sensory influence on lifespan, we are carrying out an RNA-mediated interference screen for enhancers and suppressors of the lifespan phenotype of sensory mutant animals. As we identify genes involved in the sensory influence on lifespan, we will study their expression patterns using GFP-fusion reporter constructs to determine in which cells they function. We also plan to measure the lifespans of strains in which the particular gene was knocked out or overexpressed. Furthermore, we will conduct pertinent studies on how the gene products function, such as testing if the functions of these genes require each other or involve the daf-2 insulin/IGF-1 pathway or other signaling pathways in the worm known to influence its lifespan. References: (1) Apfeld, J., and C. Kenyon. 1999. Nature (Lond.). 402: 804 809; (2) Alcedo, J., and C. Kenyon. 2004. Neuron 41: 45 55; (3) Pierce, S. B., et al. 2001. Genes Dev. 15: 672 - 686.

Monique van der Voet et al. (2006) European Worm Meeting "The Function of LIN-5 in Chromosome Segregation and Asymmetric Division"

Matilde Galli, Christian Berends, Monique van der Voet, Justin Peters, Sander Van Den Heuvel, Mike Boxem, Marjolein Wildwater, Adri Thomas, Inge The

[European Worm Meeting, 2006]

Monique van der Voet1, Marjolein Wildwater1, Mike Boxem, Justin Peters1, Christian Berends1, Matilde Galli1, Inge The1, Adri Thomas1 and Sander van den Heuvel. The position of the spindle apparatus determines the plane of cell division. During asymmetric division, proper positioning of the spindle is needed in the generation of daughter cells that differ in size, cytoplasmic determinants and developmental fate. We have focused our attention on the C. elegans gene lin-5 to identify novel regulatory mechanisms and molecules that control spindle-mediated functions.. Our previous studies demonstrated that lin-5 is generally required for chromosome segregation and spindle positioning during meiotic and mitotic M phase. lin-5 encodes a coiled-coil protein that localizes to the cell cortex as well as spindle asters, and recruits the G protein regulators GPR-1/GPR-2 to the same locations. Results from our lab as well as others support that LIN-5 and GPR act in concert with the GOA-1/GPA-16 G?i/o subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins in an evolutionarily conserved pathway for spindle positioning. Many aspects of this process remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how polarity determinants at the cortex affect LIN-5/GPR/G?i/o function to create asymmetry in the pulling forces that act on the spindle asters. In addition, the downstream targets of the LIN-5/GPR/G?i/o pathway remain unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of these processes, we continue to use a combined genetic and biochemical approach. We have identified novel candidate partners of LIN-5 through immunoprecipitation from embryonic lysates followed by mass spectrometry. In addition, we identified multiple residues of LIN-5 and GPR that are phosphorylated in vivo. We are currently testing the in vivo relevance of these interactions and modifications and hope to present our results at the meeting.

Kreutzer MA et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Expression Studies of the Putative Caenorhabditis elegans cyclin A and B Genes"

Richards JP, Bennett KL, Kreutzer MA

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

Expression studies of the putative Caenorhabditis elegans cyclin A and B genes Monique A. Kreutzer, James P. Richards and Karen L. Bennett, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65212. We have cloned putative A, B1 and B2 cyclins from C. elegans. Cyclin B1 and B2 are single copy genes while cyclin A belongs to a multigene family. Cyclin A and B2 each correspond to single transcripts while cyclin B1 recognizes three transcripts. The C. elegans temperature sensitive germline defective mutants fem-1, fem-3 gf) and glp4 were used to analyze cyclin germline expression. When hybridizing C. elegans cyclin A or B2 to the mutant RNAs that produce no oocytes, the cyclin A and B2 messages are significantly reduced. When normal numbers of oocytes are produced, the cyclin A and B2 messages are at wild type levels. Therefore, the cyclin A and B2 transcripts appear to be primarily maternal with some somatic component. Consistent with a somatic component, cyclin A and B2 cDNAs cross-hybridize to Ascans intestinal poly A+ RNA. Hybridization of the cyclin B1 cDNA to these germline defective RNAs suggest that the cyclin B1 transcripts are differentially expressed in the germline. The two larger cyclin B1 transcripts appear to be primarily maternal and the smallest transcript appears to be sperm- specific. The observation that two polyadenylation signals are present in the cyclin B1 3'UTR, as well as results using cyclin B1 probes from specific regions of the B1 3'UTR, suggests that two of the three cyclin B1 transcripts are produced by polyadenylation a~ different sites. There is precedence in mice and flies for producing tissue-specific transcripts by different use of the cyclin B 3'UTRs. It has been shown in mouse that cyclin B1 hybridizes to four differentially expressed transcripts, one of which is testis- specific. Two of these mouse transcripts differ in the choice of polyadenylation sites and therefore in the lengths of their 3'UTRs (Chapman and Wolgemuth (1992) MoL Repro.Dev. 33, 259-269). In Drosophila, the cyclin B cDNA detects two female-specific transcripts that are made by splicing of a region of the cyclin B 3'UTR (Dalby and Glover (1992) Development 115, 989-997). In summary, our initial findings show that the C. elegans cyclin As and Bs are highly expressed in the germline and also suggest that the three cyclin B1 transcripts are differentially expressed in oocytes and sperm.