Similarity of the C. elegans developmental timing protein LIN-42 to circadian rhythm proteins

Science. 1999 Nov 5;286(5442):1141-6. doi: 10.1126/science.286.5442.1141.

Abstract

The Caenorhabditis elegans heterochronic genes control the relative timing and sequence of many events during postembryonic development, including the terminal differentiation of the lateral hypodermis, which occurs during the final (fourth) molt. Inactivation of the heterochronic gene lin-42 causes hypodermal terminal differentiation to occur precociously, during the third molt. LIN-42 most closely resembles the Period family of proteins from Drosophila and other organisms, proteins that function in another type of biological timing mechanism: the timing of circadian rhythms. Per mRNA levels oscillate with an approximately 24-hour periodicity. lin-42 mRNA levels also oscillate, but with a faster rhythm; the oscillation occurs relative to the approximately 6-hour molting cycles of postembryonic development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / chemistry*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Exons
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Helminth Proteins / chemistry*
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics*
  • Helminth Proteins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molting
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Period Circadian Proteins
  • RNA, Helminth / genetics
  • RNA, Helminth / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIN-42 protein, C elegans
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PER protein, Drosophila
  • Period Circadian Proteins
  • RNA, Helminth
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TIM-1 protein, C elegans
  • TIMELESS protein, human
  • Timeless protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • tim protein, Drosophila

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF183400
  • GENBANK/AF183401