Transcription regulatory networks in Caenorhabditis elegans

Gene

Public Gene Name

ast-1  

Sequence Name

T08H4.3  

WB ID

WBGene00020368  

Description

ast-1 encodes a novel ETS-box transcription factor; AST-1 is required for the proper navigation of some interneuron axons to their targets, for differentiation of the ventral cord pioneer neuron AVG, and for pharyngeal morphogenesis; AST-1 is transiently expressed in many head neurons late in their differentiation and axon outgrowth, and in a few pharyngeal cells; AST-1 is at first nuclear, but then relocates to spots in cell bodies and even neuronal processes; hypomorphic ast-1 mutants have axons extending laterally, and crossing over from the right axon tract to the left axon bundle; null ast-1(hd92) mutants are inviable, failing to attach a working pharynx to their cuticle during development and then starving as L1 larvae; behaviorally, hypomorphic ast-1 animals are at least superficially normal, indicating that the ventral nerve cord can tolerate at least some miswiring; AST-1 regulates odr-2 expression, while ast-1 expression is itself regulated by lin-11.