Abstract
The let-23 receptor/mpk-1 MAP kinase signaling pathway induces the vulva in C. elegans. We show that MPK-1 directly regulates both the LIN-31 winged-helix and the LIN-1 Ets transcription factors to specify the vulval cell fate. lin-31 and lin-1 act genetically downstream of mpk-1, and both proteins can be directly phosphorylated by MAP kinase. LIN-31 binds to LIN-1, and the LIN-1/LIN-31 complex inhibits vulval induction. Phosphorylation of LIN-31 by MPK-1 disrupts the LIN-1/LIN-31 complex, relieving vulval inhibition. Phosphorylated LIN-31 may also act as a transcriptional activator, promoting vulval cell fates. LIN-31 is a vulval-specific effector of MPK-1, while LIN-1 acts as a general effector. The partnership of tissue-specific and general effectors may confer specificity onto commonly used signaling pathways, creating distinct tissue-specific outcomes.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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3T3 Cells
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
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Embryonic Induction / physiology
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ErbB Receptors / genetics
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Helminth Proteins / genetics
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Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65 / genetics
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Mice
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
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Mutation
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Organ Specificity
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Phosphorylation
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Stem Cells
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Transgenes
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Vulva / cytology
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Vulva / embryology
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Helminth Proteins
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Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65
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Lin-1 protein, C elegans
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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lin-31 protein, C elegans
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ErbB Receptors
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let-23 protein, C elegans
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
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mpk-1 protein, C elegans