The Caenorhabditis Elegans NR4A Nuclear Receptor is Required for Spermatheca Morphogenesis

Overview

Journal Dev Biol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Biology
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2007 Dec 22

PMID 18096150

Citations 24

Authors

Chris R Gissendanner

Kristopher Kelley

Tri Q Nguyen

Marius C Hoener

Ann E Sluder

Claude V Maina

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The gene nhr-6 encodes the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of the NR4A nuclear receptor. We determined the biological functions of NHR-6 through the isolation and characterization of a deletion allele of nhr-6, lg6001. We demonstrate that nhr-6 has an essential role in the development of the C. elegans somatic gonad. Specifically, nhr-6 is required for the development of the hermaphrodite spermatheca, a somatic gonad organ that serves as the site of sperm storage and oocyte fertilization. Using a variety of spermatheca cell markers, we have determined that loss of nhr-6 function causes severe morphological defects in the spermatheca and associated spermathecal valves. This appears to be due to specific requirements for nhr-6 in regulating cell proliferation and cell differentiation during development of these structures. The improper development of these structures in nhr-6(lg6001) mutants leads to defects in ovulation and significantly reduced fecundity of C. elegans hermaphrodites. The phenotypes of nhr-6(lg6001) mutants are consistent with a role for nhr-6 in organogenesis, similar to the functions of its mammalian homologs.

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