Germline and developmental roles of the nuclear transport factor importin α3 in C. elegans

K. G. Geles, S. A. Adam*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

The importin α family of transport factors mediates the nuclear import of classical nuclear localization signal-containing proteins. In order to understand how multiple importin α proteins are regulated both in individual cells and in a whole organism, the three importin α (ima) genes of Caenorhabditis elegans have been identified and studied. All three IMAs are expressed in the germline; however, only IMA-3 is expressed in the soma. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments demonstrate that IMA-3 is required for the progression of meiotic prophase I during oocyte development. Loss of IMA-3 expression leads also to a disruption of the nuclear pore complex accompanied by the mis-localization of P granules. A range of defects occurring in ima-3(RNAi) F1 progeny further supports a role for IMA-3 during embryonic and larval development. The functional association of IMA-3 with distinct cellular events, its expression pattern and intracellular localization indicate that regulation of the nuclear transport machinery is involved in the control of developmental pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1817-1830
Number of pages14
JournalDevelopment
Volume128
Issue number10
StatePublished - Jun 19 2001

Keywords

  • C. elegans
  • Importinα
  • Nuclear transport
  • Nucleoporins
  • Oogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

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