Document Detail


MEX-5 enrichment in the C. elegans early embryo mediated by differential diffusion.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20627961     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Specification of germline and somatic cell lineages in C. elegans originates in the polarized single-cell zygote. Several cell-fate determinants are partitioned unequally along the anterior-posterior axis of the zygote, ensuring the daughter cells a unique inheritance upon asymmetric cell division. Recent studies have revealed that partitioning of the germline determinant PIE-1 and the somatic determinant MEX-5 involve protein redistribution accompanied by spatiotemporal changes in protein diffusion rates. Here, we characterize the dynamics of MEX-5 in the zygote and propose a novel reaction/diffusion model to explain both its anterior enrichment and its remarkable intracellular dynamics without requiring asymmetrically distributed binding sites. We propose that asymmetric cortically localized PAR proteins mediate the anterior enrichment of MEX-5 by reversibly changing its diffusion rate at spatially distinct points in the embryo, thus generating a stable concentration gradient along the anterior-posterior axis of the cell. This work extends the scope of reaction/diffusion models to include not only germline morphogens, but also somatic determinants.
Authors:
Brian R Daniels; Terrence M Dobrowsky; Edward M Perkins; Sean X Sun; Denis Wirtz
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Development (Cambridge, England)     Volume:  137     ISSN:  1477-9129     ISO Abbreviation:  Development     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-14     Completed Date:  2010-08-24     Revised Date:  2011-08-03    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8701744     Medline TA:  Development     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2579-85     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism,  physiology*
Cytoplasm / metabolism
Diffusion
Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism*
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
Genes, Helminth
Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
Models, Biological
Software
Zygote / metabolism
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
CA143868/CA/NCI NIH HHS; GM075305/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; 0/MEX-5 protein, C elegans; 147336-22-9/Green Fluorescent Proteins
Comments/Corrections

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