Advisor | Lee, Myon-Hee | |
Author | Mamillapalli, Srivalli Swathi | |
Date Accessioned | 2015-08-24T18:43:11Z | |
Date Available | 2017-08-24T14:50:50Z | |
Date of Issue | 2015 | |
Identifier (URI) | http://hdl.handle.net/10342/5019 | |
Description | The precise regulation of germ cell fates (sperm or oocyte) lies at the heart of reproduction and fertility. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites produce a discrete number of sperm during larval development and then switch to produce oocyte during adulthood. A number of positive (e.g., fbf genes) and negative (e.g., gld-3) regulators are important for this switch. Here, we found that aberrant activation of MPK-1 (an ERK homolog) by removal of both fbf-1 and lip-1 partially inhibits sperm-oocyte switch, resulting in Mog (masculinization of germline) sterility. The fbf-1 gene encodes a conserved PUF (Pumilio and FBF) RNA-binding protein and the lip-1 gene encodes an MPK-1/ERK phosphatase. Notably, inhibition of MPK-1/ERK signaling by either genetic mutation or chemical inhibition reprograms the germ cell fate and thus helps in regaining the fertility. We also found that fbf-1; lip-1 Mog sterility was enhanced by the depletion of G2/M cell cycle regulators, including CYB-3/Cyclin B, CDK-1/CDK1, and CDC-25.1/CDC25. Markedly, cdc-25.1 mRNA is a direct target of FBF-1. These results suggest that FBF-1 and LIP-1 may promote sperm-oocyte switch by activating MPK-1/ERK signaling and G2/M cell cycle progression. | |
Extent | 75 p. | |
Format Medium | dissertations, academic | |
Publisher | East Carolina University | |
Subject | Developmental biology | |
Subject | Genetics | |
Subject | Medicine | |
Subject | C. elegans | |
Subject | Cell cycle regulation | |
Subject | Cell fate specification | |
Subject | Genetic controls | |
Subject | Germlines | |
Subject | MPK-1/ERK signaling | |
Subject | Caenorhabditis elegans | |
Medical Subject Headings | Spermatogenesis--physiology | |
Medical Subject Headings | Disorders of Sex Development-- metabolism. | |
Medical Subject Headings | Disorders of Sex Development-- genetics | |
Medical Subject Headings | Caenorhabditis elegans--growth & development | |
Medical Subject Headings | Caenorhabditis elegans--metabolism | |
Medical Subject Headings | RNA-Binding Proteins--metabolism | |
Title | Genetic control of cell fate specification in Caenorhabditis elegans germline. | |
Type | Master's Thesis | |
Department | Biomedical Sciences | |
Degree | M.S. | |