Maternal effect of low temperature on handedness determination in C. elegans embryos

Developmental Genetics
W B WoodA Florance

Abstract

C. elegans embryos, larvae, and adults exhibit several left-right asymmetries with an invariant dextral handedness, which first becomes evident in the embryo at the 6-cell stage. Reversed (sinistral) handedness was not observed among > 10,000 N2 adults reared at 16 degrees C or 20 degrees C under standard conditions. However, among the progeny of adults reproducing at 10 degrees C, the frequency of animals with sinistral handedness was increased to approximately 0.5%. Cold pulse experiments indicated that the critical period for this increase was in early oogenesis, several hours before the first appearance of left-right asymmetry in the embryo. Hermaphrodites reared at 10 degrees C and mated with males reared at 20 degrees C produced sinistral outcross as well as sinistral self-progeny, indicating that the low temperature effect on oocytes was sufficient to cause reversals. Increased frequency of reversal was also observed among animals developed from embryos lacking the egg shell. Possible mechanisms for the control of embryonic handedness are discussed in the context of these results, including the hypothesis that handedness could be dictated by the chirality of a gametic component.

References

Jan 1, 1978·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·U DeppeG von Ehrenstein
Mar 1, 1977·Developmental Biology·J E Sulston, H R Horvitz
Jul 1, 1989·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M BruecknerA L Horwich
Jan 30, 1987·Cell·J R Priess, J N Thomson
Dec 31, 1971·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·E Haber
Nov 1, 1983·Developmental Biology·J E SulstonJ N Thomson
Dec 1, 1981·The Journal of Cell Biology·S Inoué
Apr 30, 1993·Science·T YokoyamaP A Overbeek
Jan 1, 1995·Methods in Cell Biology·L G Edgar
Oct 5, 1923·Science·A H Sturtevant
Mar 1, 1982·Wilhelm Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology·Gary Freeman, Judith W Lundelius
Mar 1, 1929·Wilhelm Roux' Archiv Für Entwicklungsmechanik Der Organismen·Franz Dunschen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 1997·Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology·W B Wood
Jul 4, 2012·EvoDevo·Jens SchulzeEinhard Schierenberg
Nov 9, 2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Melissa R AlcornJoel H Rothman
Jan 1, 1996·Developmental Genetics·M L King
Aug 1, 2014·Genesis : the Journal of Genetics and Development·Stephanie SchoneggWilliam B Wood
Mar 4, 2014·Genesis : the Journal of Genetics and Development·Davon C CallanderJoel H Rothman
Dec 8, 1998·Developmental Genetics·D C BergmannW B Wood
Oct 11, 2020·Journal of Developmental Biology·Jennifer D Cohen, Meera V Sundaram

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.