In the nematode C. elegans, the specific identities of the nine sensory rays in the male tail are combinatorially controlled by homeotic-cluster (HOM-C) genes. The long-term goal of this proposal is to understand the means by which this HOM-C expression pattern is generated, with particular emphasis on one critical component, the Hox gene egl-5. Because vertebrate development employs similar strategies, this research will have relevance for understanding human development and developmental defects. A two-fold experimental approach is proposed here. First, a genetic screen will be performed to isolate animals which have defective egl-5 expression patterns. This approach is feasible because misregulation of egl-5 expression is predicted to cause specific, identifiable mutant phenotypes in the structure of the male tail. This may allow the identification and characterization of genes which act to generate HOM-C expression patterns. Concurrently, a molecular approach will be taken: using a reporter gene construct, the regulatory elements of the egl-5 gene which are necessary and sufficient for its wild-type expression pattern will be delineated. The means by which these elements function will then be studied; genes identified in the mutant screen may be candidate regulatory factors which act through these elements. This work should shed light on the generation of HOM-C gene codes, which remains an important and interesting problem in developmental biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM018131-02
Application #
2391808
Study Section
Biological Sciences 2 (BIOL)
Project Start
1997-04-01
Project End
Budget Start
1997-04-01
Budget End
1998-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Portman, Douglas S; Emmons, Scott W (2004) Identification of C. elegans sensory ray genes using whole-genome expression profiling. Dev Biol 270:499-512