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The PIE-1 protein and germline specification in C. elegans embryos

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Abstract

TOTIPOTENT germline blastomeres in Caenorhabditis elegans contain, but do not respond to, factors that promote somatic differentiation in other embryonic cells1,2. Mutations in the maternal gene pie-1 result in the germline blastomeres adopting somatic cell fates3. Here we show that pie-1 encodes a nuclear protein, PIE-1, that is localized to the germline blastomeres throughout early development. During division of each germline blastomere, PIE-1 initially associates with both centrosomes of the mitotic spindle. However, PIE-1 rapidly disappears from the centrosome destined for the somatic daughter, and persists in the centrosome of the daughter that becomes the next germline blastomere. The PIE-1 protein contains potential zinc-finger motifs also found in the mammalian growth-factor response protein TIS-11/NUP475 (refs 4–7). The localization and genetic properties of pie-1provide an example of a repressor-based mechanism for preserving pluripotency within a stem cell lineage.

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Author notes

  1. Craig C. Mello

    Present address: University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, 373 Plantation Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, 1124 Columbia Street, Washington, 98104, USA

    Craig C. Mello, Charlotte Schubert, Bruce Draper, Wei Zhang, Robert Lobel & James R. Priess

  2. Zoology Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Box 351800, Washington, 98195, USA

    Charlotte Schubert, Bruce Draper & James R. Priess

  3. Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Department of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia Street, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA

    James R. Priess

Authors
  1. Craig C. Mello
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  2. Charlotte Schubert
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  3. Bruce Draper
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  4. Wei Zhang
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  5. Robert Lobel
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  6. James R. Priess
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Mello, C., Schubert, C., Draper, B. et al. The PIE-1 protein and germline specification in C. elegans embryos. Nature 382, 710–712 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/382710a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/382710a0

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