Genetics of intercellular signalling in C. elegans

Cell-cell interactions play a significant role in controlling cell fate during development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It has been found that two genes, glp-1 and lin-12, are required for many of these decisions. glp-1 is required for induction of mitotic proliferation in the germline by the somatic distal tip cell and for induction of the anterior pharynx early in embryogenesis. lin-12 is required for the interactions between cells of equivalent developmental potential, which allow them to take on different fates. Comparison of these two genes on a molecular level indicates that they are similar in sequence and organization, suggesting that the mechanisms of these two different sets of cell-cell interactions are similar.