A bHLH Code for Sexually Dimorphic Form and Function of the C. elegans Somatic Gonad.

ABSTRACT: How sexually dimorphic gonads are generated is a fundamental question at the interface of developmental and evolutionary biology [1-3]. In C. elegans, sexual dimorphism in gonad form and function largely originates in different apportionment of roles to three regulatory cells of the somatic gonad primordium in young larvae. Their essential roles include leading gonad arm outgrowth, serving as the germline niche, connecting to epithelial openings, and organizing reproductive organ development. The development and function of the regulatory cells in both sexes requires the basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor HLH-2, the sole ortholog of the E proteins mammalian E2A and Drosophila Daughterless [4-8], yet how they adopt different fates to execute their different roles has been un

SUBMITTER: Sallee MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5531766 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature