Transcription regulatory networks in Caenorhabditis elegans

Gene

Public Gene Name

pig-1  

Sequence Name

W03G1.6  

WB ID

WBGene00021012  

Description

pig-1 encodes an ortholog of the human MELK serine/threonine kinase (OMIM:607025); PIG-1 is cytoplasmic, and is required for normal polarity in asymmetrical cell divisions yielding apoptotic cells versus neurons; whereas normal HSN/PHB and Q.p neuroblast divisions yield daughter cells that differ in size, those of pig-1 mutants are abnormally equal in size, and produce excess neurons; pig-1 acts cell-autonomously in the Q.p lineage; pig-1 is ubiquitously expressed in early embryos, broadly expressed in dividing larval cells, and silent in adults; the pig-1 phenotype is enhanced by ced-3 mutants, perhaps because mutations in pig-1 transform cell fates but fail to fully suppress apoptosis; pig-1 phenotypes are maternally rescued, probably due to pig-1 transcripts in the hermaphrodite germ line.