Somatic misexpression of germline P granules and enhanced RNA interference in retinoblastoma pathway mutants

Duo Wang, Scott Kennedy, Darryl Conte, John K. Kim, Harrison W. Gabel, Ravi S. Kamath, Craig C. Mello, Gary Ruvkun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

225 Scopus citations

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans homologues of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumour suppressor complex specify cell lineage during development. Here we show that mutations in Rb pathway components enhance RNA interference (RNAi) and cause somatic cells to express genes and elaborate perinuclear structures normally limited to germline-specific P granules. Furthermore, particular gene inactivations that disrupt RNAi reverse the cell lineage transformations of Rb pathway mutants. These findings suggest that mutations in Rb pathway components cause cells to revert to patterns of gene expression normally restricted to germ cells. Rb may act by a similar mechanism to transform mammalian cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)593-597
Number of pages5
JournalNature
Volume436
Issue number7050
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 28 2005

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Somatic misexpression of germline P granules and enhanced RNA interference in retinoblastoma pathway mutants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this