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Translational control of development in C. elegans
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and the Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|June 27, 1998
Summary
The 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of mRNAs regulate gene expression during C. elegans development. These regulatory elements control protein production in specific cells, influencing cell identity and fate.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Translational control mechanisms are crucial for regulating gene expression during multicellular organism development.
- The 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) play a significant role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the known mechanisms of translational control mediated by 3'UTRs in the nematode C. elegans.
- To highlight the diverse roles of 3'UTR elements in regulating gene expression during different developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on translational control in C. elegans.
- Analysis of the functions of 3'UTR elements in oocytes, early embryos, germline, somatic cells, and during larval development.
Main Results:
- 3'UTR elements restrict translation of maternal mRNAs to specific blastomeres, crucial for cell identity.
- 3'UTR controls translationally repress mRNAs of sex-determining genes, balancing male and female cell fate specification.
- Small non-coding RNAs regulate heterochronic genes via 3'UTR-mediated mechanisms during larval development.
Conclusions:
- Translational control by 3'UTRs is a powerful mechanism for regulating gene expression in diverse cell types during animal development.
- 3'UTR-mediated translational regulation is essential for key developmental events in C. elegans, including cell specification and fate determination.