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egl-1: a key activator of apoptotic cell death in C. elegans

Oncogene volume 27, pages S30–S40 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Since the discovery of mammalian BIK and BAD in 1995, BH3-only proteins have emerged as key activators of apoptotic cell death in animals as diverse as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and humans. BH3-only proteins have also emerged as integrators of cell-death signals that determine the life-versus-death decision and that transduce this decision to the central apoptotic machinery through their physical interaction with ‘core’ BCL-2 family members, such as BCL-2 or BCL-XL. Currently, eight BH3-only proteins have been identified and characterized in mammals, and there is evidence of functional overlap between them. In contrast, only two BH3-only proteins have so far been identified and characterized in C. elegans, EGL-1 and CED-13, and there seems to be only limited functional overlap between them. Combined with the powerful genetic tools available for the analysis of apoptosis in C. elegans, and the ability to study apoptosis at single-cell resolution in this organism, the absence of extensive functional redundancy makes C. elegans an ideal model for studies on BH3-only proteins. In this study, we will review our current understanding of the role and regulation of EGL-1. We will also briefly summarize studies on CED-13, which was identified more recently.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Angelika Böttger, Eric Lambie and Scott Gerber for comments on the paper and members of the Conradt laboratory for many stimulating discussions. BC is grateful to Bob Horvitz for pointing her towards ‘the egl-1 project’ and for his encouragement and support, which was critical for the identification of n3082 and for the cloning of egl-1. Research in the Conradt laboratory is funded by the NIH (GM069950, GM076651) and ACS (RSG-06-110-01-CCG).

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Nehme, R., Conradt, B. egl-1: a key activator of apoptotic cell death in C. elegans. Oncogene 27 (Suppl 1), S30–S40 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2009.41

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