Molecular characterization of HLH-17, a C. elegans bHLH protein required for normal larval development

The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor family regulates numerous developmental events in eukaryotic cells. In the model system, C. elegans, thirty-seven bHLH proteins have been identified via genome-wide sequence analysis and fourteen have been genetically characterized to date. Thes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gene 2005-08, Vol.356, p.1-10
Main Authors: McMiller, Tracee L., Johnson, Casonya M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans - growth & development
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics
Chemotaxis
DNA, Complementary - chemistry
DNA, Complementary - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics
Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism
Head - innervation
Insulin-dependent pathways
Larva - genetics
Larva - growth & development
Larval arrest
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutation
Neural differentiation
NeuroD
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - metabolism
Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics
Quantitative RT-PCR
Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics
Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism
RNA Interference
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Transcription Factors - genetics
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Summary:The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor family regulates numerous developmental events in eukaryotic cells. In the model system, C. elegans, thirty-seven bHLH proteins have been identified via genome-wide sequence analysis and fourteen have been genetically characterized to date. These proteins influence cell fate specification of neural lineages and differentiation of myogenic lineages and have distinct roles in somatic gonadogenesis. We report here on the molecular characterization of HLH-17, a protein whose putative bHLH domain is homologous to the mammalian bHLH proteins BETA3 and bHLHB5. The gene hlh-17 is transcriptionally active at all developmental stages, with the highest steady state accumulation of hlh-17 mRNA during embryogenesis. An upstream hlh-17 sequence drives expression of GFP in the sheath cells of the cephalic sensilla. Finally, animals that are defective in HLH-17 via RNAi display egg-laying defects, while those carrying null mutations in hlh-17 do not develop beyond the L2 stage and are less attracted to potassium and sodium ions. We propose that hlh-17 affects the ability of C. elegans to respond to food cues, with possible downstream effects on insulin-signaling genes involved in the normal development and reproductive viability of the worm.
ISSN:0378-1119
1879-0038
DOI:10.1016/j.gene.2005.05.003