« Previous AbstractGene expression during testis development in Duroc boars    Next AbstractDirect innervation of GnRH neurons by metabolic- and sexual odorant-sensing leptin receptor neurons in the hypothalamic ventral premammillary nucleus »

Genes Dev

Title:		The homeodomain protein hmbx-1 maintains asymmetric gene expression in adult C. elegans olfactory neurons
Author(s):		Lesch BJ; Bargmann CI;
Address:		"Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA"
Journal Title:		Genes Dev
Year:		2010
Volume:		24
Issue:		16
Page Number:		1802 - 1815
DOI:		10.1101/gad.1932610
ISSN/ISBN:		1549-5477 (Electronic) 0890-9369 (Print) 0890-9369 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Differentiated neurons balance the need to maintain a stable identity with their flexible responses to dynamic environmental inputs. Here we characterize these opposing influences on gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans olfactory neurons. Using transcriptional reporters that are expressed differentially in two olfactory neurons, AWC(ON) and AWC(OFF), we identify mutations that affect the long-term maintenance of appropriate chemoreceptor expression. A newly identified gene from this screen, the conserved transcription factor hmbx-1, stabilizes AWC gene expression in adult animals through dosage-sensitive interactions with its transcriptional targets. The late action of hmbx-1 complements the early role of the transcriptional repressor gene nsy-7: Both repress expression of multiple AWC(OFF) genes in AWC(ON) neurons, but they act at different developmental stages. Environmental signals are superimposed onto this stable cell identity through at least two different transcriptional pathways that regulate individual chemoreceptor genes: a cGMP pathway regulated by sensory activity, and a daf-7 (TGF-beta)/daf-3 (SMAD repressor) pathway regulated by specific components of the density-dependent C. elegans dauer pheromone"
Keywords:		Alleles Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/*genetics/*metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism *Gene Expression Regulation Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics Homeodomain Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism Mutation/genetics Olfactory Nerve;
Notes:		"MedlineLesch, Bluma J Bargmann, Cornelia I eng GM07739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ F30 MH084482/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ DC004089/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ F30MH084482/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ T32 GM007739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ R01 DC004089/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/08/18 Genes Dev. 2010 Aug 15; 24(16):1802-15. doi: 10.1101/gad.1932610"