Sex determination in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line

Current Topics in Developmental Biology
Ronald E Ellis

Abstract

Sexual identity is one of the most important factors that determine how an animal will develop. Although it controls many dimorphic tissues in the body, its most ancient role is in the germ line, where it species that some cells become sperm, and others become eggs. In most animals, these two fates occur in distinct sexes. However, certain nematodes like C. elegans produce XX hermaphrodites, which make both types of gametes. In these animals, a core sex-determination pathway regulates the development of both the body and the germ line. However, modifier genes alter the activity of this pathway in germ cells, and these changes are critical for allowing XX animals to produce oocytes and sperm in an otherwise female body. In this review, I focus on (1) the core sex-determination pathway, (2) the activity of the transcription factor TRA-1 and its immediate targets fog-1 and fog-3 in germ cells, (3) how the regulation of tra-2 activity allows XX spermatogenesis, and (4) how the regulation of fem-3 activity maintains the appropriate balance between TRA-2 and FEM-3 in the germ line. Finally, I consider the major questions in this field that are driving new research.

Citations

Feb 9, 2010·Genome Génome / Conseil National De Recherches Canada·Hilary Racher, Dave Hansen
Oct 27, 2009·Development·Abbie L Casper, Mark Van Doren
Jul 2, 2014·PLoS Biology·Doris BachtrogUNKNOWN Tree of Sex Consortium
Jan 17, 2014·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jeremy C Gray, Asher D Cutter
Dec 25, 2009·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Sung Min HanMichael A Miller
Oct 10, 2012·Nature Reviews. Genetics·Bluma J Lesch, David C Page
Jan 10, 2012·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Christopher H ChandlerFredric J Janzen
Dec 12, 2018·Scientific Reports·Julian A PoushDavid S Fay
Jul 29, 2010·Journal of Cell Science·Esther ZaninMonica Gotta
Aug 13, 2011·Current Biology : CB·Christopher BaldiRonald E Ellis
Oct 30, 2010·Current Opinion in Cell Biology·Sheryl M MurrayMark Van Doren

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anthelmintics

Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. Discover the latest research on anthelmintics here.

Anthelmintics (ASM)

Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the host. Discover the latest research on anthelmintics here.