Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on December 15, 2008.

Genetics, Vol. 181, 581-591, February 2009, Copyright © 2009
doi:10.1534/genetics.108.094870

gem-1 Encodes an SLC16 Monocarboxylate Transporter-Related Protein That Functions in Parallel to the gon-2 TRPM Channel During Gonad Development in Caenorhabditis elegans

Benedict J. Kemp*,1, Diane L. Church*, Julia Hatzold*,2, Barbara Conradt{dagger} and Eric J. Lambie*,3

* Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 and {dagger} Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755

3 Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, 115 Gilman Laboratory, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755.
E-mail: eric.j.lambie{at}dartmouth.edu

The gon-2 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a TRPM cation channel required for gonadal cell divisions. In this article, we demonstrate that the gonadogenesis defects of gon-2 loss-of-function mutants (including a null allele) can be suppressed by gain-of-function mutations in the gem-1 (gon-2 extragenic modifier) locus. gem-1 encodes a multipass transmembrane protein that is similar to SLC16 family monocarboxylate transporters. Inactivation of gem-1 enhances the gonadogenesis defects of gon-2 hypomorphic mutations, suggesting that these two genes probably act in parallel to promote gonadal cell divisions. GEM-1::GFP is expressed within the gonadal precursor cells and localizes to the plasma membrane. Therefore, we propose that GEM-1 acts in parallel to the GON-2 channel to promote cation uptake within the developing gonad.




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