The Caenorhabditis elegans NR4A nuclear receptor is required for spermatheca morphogenesis |
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Authors: | Gissendanner Chris R Kelley Kristopher Nguyen Tri Q Hoener Marius C Sluder Ann E Maina Claude V |
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Institution: | a Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209, USA b F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland c Cambria Biosciences LLC, Woburn, MA 01801, USA d New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA 01938-2723, USA |
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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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Keywords: | nhr-6 NR4A C elegans Spermatheca Spermatheca-uterine valve |
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