Germline and developmental roles of the nuclear transport factor importin (α)3 in C. elegans

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 128; no. 10; pp. 1817 - 1830
• Main Authors: Geles, K G, Adam, SA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Company of Biologists Limited 15-05-2001
• Subjects: Caenorhabditis elegans; ima gene; IMA-3 protein; nuclear transport
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129

The importin (α) family of transport factors mediates the nuclear import of classical nuclear localization signal-containing proteins. In order to understand how multiple importin (α) proteins are regulated both in individual cells and in a whole organism, the three importin (α) (ima) genes of Caenorhabditis elegans have been identified and studied. All three IMAs are expressed in the germline; however, only IMA-3 is expressed in the soma. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments demonstrate that IMA-3 is required for the progression of meiotic prophase I during oocyte development. Loss of IMA-3 expression leads also to a disruption of the nuclear pore complex accompanied by the mis-localization of P granules. A range of defects occurring in ima-3(RNAi) F(1) progeny further supports a role for IMA-3 during embryonic and larval development. The functional association of IMA-3 with distinct cellular events, its expression pattern and intracellular localization indicate that regulation of the nuclear transport machinery is involved in the control of developmental pathways.