High impact information on unc-86

• The unc-86 gene product couples cell lineage and cell identity in C. elegans [1].
• Consistent with the fact that unc-86 encodes a POU domain protein, we find that the unc-86 protein is localized to the nucleus [1].
• In the affected lineages, unc-86 protein appears within a few minutes after cell division in the nuclei of those daughter cells that are transformed by unc-86 mutations [1].
• Mutations in the gene unc-86 affect development of the nematode C. elegans by altering cell lineages and cell differentiation [2].
• The unc-86 transcript encodes a protein containing a 158 amino acid sequence, referred to as the pou ("pow") domain, which is strikingly similar to sequences found in three mammalian transcription factors [2].

Biological context of unc-86

• These data suggest that unc-86 acts in a phylogenetically conserved pathway that couples neuroblast cell lineage asymmetry to the generation of diverse neural types [3].
• Distinct regulatory regions activate unc-86 expression in particular sets of sublineages [3].
• The POU homeo box gene unc-86 specifies neuroblast and neural identities in the developing Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system [3].
• These findings suggest that unc-86 encodes a transcription factor, and that the related mammalian transcription factors may function to control cell fates and cell differentiation [2].
• Thus, increased or unregulated expression of genes downstream of unc-86 can confer novel neural phenotypes suggestive of roles for unc-86-regulated genes in neural pathfinding and function [4].

Anatomical context of unc-86

• The homeo box-containing genes mec-3 and unc-86 are necessary to specify the fate of a defined set of mechanoreceptors in Caenorhabditis elegans [5].
• The NSM neurons in unc-86-null mutants also display abnormal neurite outgrowth, suggesting a role of unc-86 in regulating this process as well [6].

Associations of unc-86 with chemical compounds

• However, unc-86-null mutations do not impair the ability of NSM to reuptake serotonin released from the ADF serotonergic chemosensory neurons and this serotonin reuptake is sensitive to the serotonin reuptake block drugs imipramine and fluoxetine, demonstrating that serotonin synthesis and reuptake is regulated by distinct factors [6].
• The C. elegans POU-domain transcription factor UNC-86 regulates the tph-1 tryptophan hydroxylase gene and neurite outgrowth in specific serotonergic neurons [6].

Regulatory relationships of unc-86

• Our results suggest that the mec-3 promoter is activated in all anterior daughters of unc-86-expressing cells [7].

Other interactions of unc-86

• Two mutations that suppress the egg-laying defect of unc-86 have no effect on the mec-3 expression defect in an unc-86 mutant [8].
• The POU homeobox gene unc-86 specifies many neuroblast and neural fates in the developing C. elegans nervous system [4].
• In an unc-86; ham-2 double mutant the HSNs are defective in EGL-43 down-regulation, an egl-5-like phenotype that is absent in either single mutant [9].
• In addition, mbr-1 expression is regulated by UNC-86, a POU domain transcription factor, and the pruning of the excessive AIM connection is impaired in the unc-86 mutant [10].

References