Identification of genes expressed in C. elegans touch receptor neurons

Yun Zhang, Charles Ma, Thomas Delohery, Brian Nasipak, Barrett C. Foat, Alexander Bounoutas, Harmen J. Bussemaker, Stuart K. Kim and Martin Chalfie ()
Additional contact information
Yun Zhang: Columbia University
Charles Ma: Columbia University
Thomas Delohery: Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute
Brian Nasipak: Columbia University
Barrett C. Foat: Columbia University
Alexander Bounoutas: Columbia University
Harmen J. Bussemaker: Columbia University
Stuart K. Kim: Stanford University Medical Center
Martin Chalfie: Columbia University

Nature, 2002, vol. 418, issue 6895, 331-335

Abstract: Abstract The extent of gene regulation in cell differentiation is poorly understood. We previously used saturation mutagenesis to identify 18 genes that are needed for the development and function of a single type of sensory neuron—the touch receptor neuron for gentle touch in Caenorhabditis elegans1,2. One of these genes, mec-3, encodes a transcription factor that controls touch receptor differentiation3,4. By culturing and isolating wild-type and mec-3 mutant cells from embryos and applying their amplified RNA to DNA microarrays, here we have identified genes that are known to be expressed in touch receptors, a previously uncloned gene (mec-17) that is needed for maintaining touch receptor differentiation2,5, and more than 50 previously unknown mec-3-dependent genes. These genes are randomly distributed in the genome and under-represented both for genes that are co-expressed in operons and for multiple members of gene families. Using regions 5′ of the start codon of the first 20 genes, we have also identified an over-represented heptanucleotide, AATGCAT, that is needed for the expression of touch receptor genes6.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1038/nature00891

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