Genetic Analysis of Dauer Formation inCaenorhabditis briggsae

• DOI: 10.1534/genetics.107.078857
• Publication Date: 2007-07-30T00:57:55Z
• Authors: Takao Inoue; Michael Ailion; Shirley Poon; Hannah K Kim; James H Thomas; Paul W Sternberg
• Keywords: Caenorhabditis

Abstract Molecular changes that underlie evolutionary in behavior and physiology are not well understood. Dauer formation Caenorhabditis elegans is a temperature-sensitive process controlled through network of signaling pathways associated with sensory neurons potentially an excellent system which to investigate molecular neuronal function during evolution. To begin the evolution dauer genus at level, we isolated dauer-formation mutations C. briggsae, species closely related model organism elegans. We identified orthologs genes daf-2 (insulin receptor), daf-3 (Smad), daf-4 (TGF-β type 2 as required for cilia. Phenotypic analyses revealed functions these conserved between briggsae. Analysis briggsae also significant difference two their responses high temperatures (>26°). strongly induced form dauers above 26°, near upper limit growth In contrast, capable higher than elegans, lacks this response.