Genetic Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans MAP Kinase Gene mpk-1

Corresponding author: Stuart K. Kim, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5329., kim{at}cmgm.stanford.edu (E-mail).

Communicating editor: R. K. HERMAN

The Caenorhabditis elegans mpk-1 gene encodes a MAP kinase protein that plays an important role in Ras-mediated induction of vulval cell fates. We show that mutations that eliminate mpk-1 activity result in a highly penetrant, vulvaless phenotype. A double mutant containing a gain-of-function mpk-1 mutation and a gain-of-function mek mutation (MEK phosphorylates and activates MPK-1) exhibits a multivulva phenotype. These results suggest that mpk-1 may transduce most or all of the anchor cell signal. Epistasis analysis suggests that mpk-1 acts downstream of mek-2 (encodes a MEK homolog) and upstream of lin-1 (encodes an Ets transcription factor) in the anchor cell signaling pathway. Finally, mpk-1 may act together with let-60 ras in multiple developmental processes, as mpk-1 mutants exhibit nearly the same range of developmental phenotypes as let-60 ras mutants.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Nykamp, M.-H. Lee, and J. Kimble C. elegans La-related protein, LARP-1, localizes to germline P bodies and attenuates Ras-MAPK signaling during oogenesis RNA, July 1, 2008; 14(7): 1378 - 1389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-H. Lee, M. Ohmachi, S. Arur, S. Nayak, R. Francis, D. Church, E. Lambie, and T. Schedl Multiple Functions and Dynamic Activation of MPK-1 Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Development Genetics, December 1, 2007; 177(4): 2039 - 2062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Kritikou, S. Milstein, P.-O. Vidalain, G. Lettre, E. Bogan, K. Doukoumetzidis, P. Gray, T. G. Chappell, M. Vidal, and M. O. Hengartner C. elegans GLA-3 is a novel component of the MAP kinase MPK-1 signaling pathway required for germ cell survival. Genes & Dev., August 15, 2006; 20(16): 2279 - 2292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. R. Boag, A. Nakamura, and T. K. Blackwell A conserved RNA-protein complex component involved in physiological germline apoptosis regulation in C. elegans Development, November 15, 2005; 132(22): 4975 - 4986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Rocheleau, A. Ronnlund, S. Tuck, and M. V. Sundaram Caenorhabditis elegans CNK-1 promotes Raf activation but is not essential for Ras/Raf signaling PNAS, August 16, 2005; 102(33): 11757 - 11762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Berset, E. F. Hoier, and A. Hajnal The C. elegans homolog of the mammalian tumor suppressor Dep-1/Scc1 inhibits EGFR signaling to regulate binary cell fate decisions Genes & Dev., June 1, 2005; 19(11): 1328 - 1340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Killian and E. J. A. Hubbard C. elegans pro-1 activity is required for soma/germline interactions that influence proliferation and differentiation in the germ line Development, March 15, 2004; 131(6): 1267 - 1278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Kao, S. Tuck, D. Baillie, and M. V. Sundaram C. elegans SUR-6/PR55 cooperates with LET-92/protein phosphatase 2A and promotes Raf activity independently of inhibitory Akt phosphorylation sites Development, February 15, 2004; 131(4): 755 - 765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Battu, E. F. Hoier, and A. Hajnal The C. elegans G-protein-coupled receptor SRA-13 inhibits RAS/MAPK signalling during olfaction and vulval development Development, June 15, 2003; 130(12): 2567 - 2577. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Howard and M. V. Sundaram C. elegans EOR-1/PLZF and EOR-2 positively regulate Ras and Wnt signaling and function redundantly with LIN-25 and the SUR-2 Mediator component Genes & Dev., July 15, 2002; 16(14): 1815 - 1827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. Szewczyk, B. K. Peterson, and L. A. Jacobson Activation of Ras and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Promotes Protein Degradation in Muscle Cells of Caenorhabditis elegans Mol. Cell. Biol., June 15, 2002; 22(12): 4181 - 4188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Rocheleau, R. M. Howard, A. P. Goldman, M. L. Volk, L. J. Girard, and M. V. Sundaram A lin-45 raf Enhancer Screen Identifies eor-1, eor-2 and Unusual Alleles of Ras Pathway Genes in Caenorhabditis elegans Genetics, May 1, 2002; 161(1): 121 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Hsu, C. L. Zobel, E. J. Lambie, T. Schedl, and K. Kornfeld Caenorhabditis elegans lin-45 raf Is Essential for Larval Viability, Fertility and the Induction of Vulval Cell Fates Genetics, February 1, 2002; 160(2): 481 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Schutzman, C. Z. Borland, J. C. Newman, M. K. Robinson, M. Kokel, and M. J. Stern The Caenorhabditis elegans EGL-15 Signaling Pathway Implicates a DOS-Like Multisubstrate Adaptor Protein in Fibroblast Growth Factor Signal Transduction Mol. Cell. Biol., December 1, 2001; 21(23): 8104 - 8116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Navarro, E. Y. Shim, Y. Kohara, A. Singson, and T. K. Blackwell cgh-1, a conserved predicted RNA helicase required for gametogenesis and protection from physiological germline apoptosis in C. elegans Development, September 1, 2001; 128(17): 3221 - 3232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Miller, V. Q. Nguyen, M.-H. Lee, M. Kosinski, T. Schedl, R. M. Caprioli, and D. Greenstein A Sperm Cytoskeletal Protein That Signals Oocyte Meiotic Maturation and Ovulation Science, March 16, 2001; 291(5511): 2144 - 2147. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Nilsson, T. Tiensuu, and S. Tuck Caenorhabditis elegans lin-25: A Study of Its Role in Multiple Cell Fate Specification Events Involving Ras and the Identification and Characterization of Evolutionarily Conserved Domains Genetics, November 1, 2000; 156(3): 1083 - 1096. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Berset, E. F. Hoier, G. Battu, S. Canevascini, and A. Hajnal Notch Inhibition of RAS Signaling Through MAP Kinase Phosphatase LIP-1 During C. elegans Vulval Development Science, February 9, 2001; 291(5506): 1055 - 1058. [Abstract] [Full Text]