Gene Duplication of a pax-2/5/8 Family Transcription Factor in Caenorhabditis
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Date
2011-06
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
To better understand the functional
consequences of gene duplication, we are
studying duplication of a pax-2/5/8 gene in
Caenorhabditis nematodes. There are two
genes in the nematode C. elegans that code for
PAX-2/5/8-related transcription factors, Celegl-
38 and Cel-pax-2. Species related to C.
elegans have only one pax-2/5/8-related gene.
To understand the functional consequences of
gene duplication, our goal is to compare the
functions of the two C. elegans genes to the
single gene in C. briggsae, Cbr-egl-38. In an
attempt to assess the function of Cbr-egl-38,
we have used dsRNA E. coli feeding with no
phenotypic change. We have also attempted
dsRNA injection with no phenotypic change.
Currently, we are constructing a heat shock
promoter driven hairpin construct to ensure
knockdown of Cbr-egl-38 in all tissues. We will
observe the phenotypes associated with
knockdown at various temperatures. We have
also conducted a mutagenesis screen in hopes
of identifying a Cbr-egl-38 mutant. F2 offspring
of mutagenized C. briggsae animals were
screened for egg laying defects (Egl) and other
notable phenotypes. The animal lines with the
Egl phenotype were analyzed under a
compound microscope for defects in the egg
laying system. The products of approximately
31,000 mutagenized gametes were screened.
Over 50 mutant strains with notable vulval
morphology defects were isolated. Twenty-five
strains with phenotypes similar to Cel-egl-38
have been sequenced in search of a Cbr-egl-38
mutation. While there are no data to indicate
the presence of a Cbr-egl-38 mutation in the
isolated strains, at least 9 Biv, 5 Unc, and 12
Dpy mutants have also been isolated.
Description
Keywords
C. elegans, C. briggsae, wnt, egl-38, development, vulval