# GENETIC CONTROL OF CELL TYPE IN C ELEGANS

> **NIH NIH R29** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 1993 · $131,483

## Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to understand the genetic control
of cell identity and terminal differentiation.  Genes have been
identified for the establishment of cell identity, for effecting
terminal differentiation, and for the differentiated features of
the touch receptor neurons in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
One of these genes, mec-3, appears to effect terminal
differentiation by inducing transcription of genes encoding the
differentiated features of the touch receptors.  The proposed
experiments examine how mec-3 is regulated, and how mec-3 in turn
regulates expression of other genes.  Transformation of C. elegans
by microinjection of DNA will be used to study the regulatory and
coding regions of mec-3,  to express mec-3-1acZ fusions in C.
elegans to determine the localization of mec-3, to overproduce mec-
3 and express it in other tissues, and to examine genes that are
regulated by mec-3.  New genes that affect mec-3 will be
identified, then characterized and cloned along with existing
genes.  Anti-mec-3 antibodies will be generated and used to
determine localization of mec-3 in wild-type and mutant strains.
Understanding cell determination and differentiation, as addressed
in this proposal, relates to three aspects of human health:  1)
Essentially all cells in the human body undergo these processes.
2) The brain is the most complex human organ, with the largest
number of cell types.  Some mental deficits and neuronal diseases
may be due to defects in determination and differentiation of
specific cell types in the brain.  3) Cancer is defined by the
failure of cells to stop dividing and differentiate.  mec-3 appears
to induce terminal differentiation and is associated with (and
perhaps causes) a cessation of cell division.  Cancers may occur,
in part, from a failure to express genes such as mec-3.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199632
- **Project number:** 5R29HD025557-05
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M1LVPE5GLSD9
- **Principal Investigator:** JEFFREY C WAY
- **Activity code:** R29 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $131,483
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-04-01 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199632

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199632, GENETIC CONTROL OF CELL TYPE IN C ELEGANS (5R29HD025557-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199632. Licensed CC0.

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