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Updated: May 9, 2026

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Active ERK in the C. elegans Germline
Published on: November 29, 2016
Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HPK-1) is required in the soma for robust germline proliferation in C.
Slavica Berber1, Estelle Llamosas, Priya Thaivalappil
1School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Background:
Tightly regulated pathways maintain the balance between proliferation and differentiation within stem cell populations. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the germline is the only tissue that is maintained by stem-like cells into adulthood. In the current study, we investigated the role played by a member of the Homeodomain interacting protein kinase (HIPK) family of serine/threonine kinases, HPK-1, in the development and maintenance of the C. elegans germline.
Results:
We report that HPK-1 is required for promotion of germline proliferation during development and into adulthood. Additionally, we show that HPK-1 is required in the soma for regulation of germline proliferation. We also show that HPK-1 is a predominantly nuclear protein expressed in several somatic tissues including germline-interacting somatic cells.
Conclusions:
Our observations are consistent with a conserved role for HIPKs in the control of cellular proliferation and identify a new context for such control in germ cell proliferation.
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