let-60, a gene that specifies cell fates during C. elegans vulval induction, encodes a ras protein. 1990

M Han, and P W Sternberg
Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Genetic analysis previously suggested that the let-60 gene controls the switch between vulval and hypodermal cell fates during C. elegans vulval induction. We have cloned the let-60 gene, and shown that it encodes a gene product identical in 84% of its first 164 amino acids to ras gene products from other vertebrate and invertebrate species. This conservation suggests that the let-60 product contains all the biochemical functions of ras proteins. Extrachromosomal arrays of let-60 ras DNA cause cell-type misspecification (extra vulval fates) phenotypically opposite to that caused by let-60 ras loss-of-function mutations (no vulval fates), and suppress the vulvaless phenotype of mutations in two other genes necessary for vulval induction. Thus, the level and pattern of let-60 ras expression may be under strict regulation; increase in let-60 ras activity bypasses or reduces the need for upstream genes in the vulval induction pathway.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008954 Models, Biological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D011905 Genes, ras Family of retrovirus-associated DNA sequences (ras) originally isolated from Harvey (H-ras, Ha-ras, rasH) and Kirsten (K-ras, Ki-ras, rasK) murine sarcoma viruses. Ras genes are widely conserved among animal species and sequences corresponding to both H-ras and K-ras genes have been detected in human, avian, murine, and non-vertebrate genomes. The closely related N-ras gene has been detected in human neuroblastoma and sarcoma cell lines. All genes of the family have a similar exon-intron structure and each encodes a p21 protein. Ha-ras Genes,Ki-ras Genes,N-ras Genes,c-Ha-ras Genes,c-Ki-ras Genes,c-N-ras Genes,ras Genes,v-Ha-ras Genes,v-Ki-ras Genes,H-ras Genes,H-ras Oncogenes,Ha-ras Oncogenes,K-ras Genes,K-ras Oncogenes,Ki-ras Oncogenes,N-ras Oncogenes,c-H-ras Genes,c-H-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-Ha-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-K-ras Genes,c-K-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-Ki-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-N-ras Proto-Oncogenes,ras Oncogene,v-H-ras Genes,v-H-ras Oncogenes,v-Ha-ras Oncogenes,v-K-ras Genes,v-K-ras Oncogenes,v-Ki-ras Oncogenes,Gene, Ha-ras,Gene, Ki-ras,Gene, v-Ha-ras,Gene, v-Ki-ras,Genes, Ha-ras,Genes, Ki-ras,Genes, N-ras,Genes, v-Ha-ras,Genes, v-Ki-ras,H ras Genes,H ras Oncogenes,H-ras Gene,H-ras Oncogene,Ha ras Genes,Ha ras Oncogenes,Ha-ras Gene,Ha-ras Oncogene,K ras Genes,K ras Oncogenes,K-ras Gene,K-ras Oncogene,Ki ras Genes,Ki ras Oncogenes,Ki-ras Gene,Ki-ras Oncogene,N ras Genes,N ras Oncogenes,N-ras Gene,N-ras Oncogene,c H ras Genes,c H ras Proto Oncogenes,c Ha ras Genes,c Ha ras Proto Oncogenes,c K ras Genes,c K ras Proto Oncogenes,c Ki ras Genes,c Ki ras Proto Oncogenes,c N ras Genes,c N ras Proto Oncogenes,c-H-ras Gene,c-H-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-Ha-ras Gene,c-Ha-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-K-ras Gene,c-K-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-Ki-ras Gene,c-Ki-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-N-ras Gene,c-N-ras Proto-Oncogene,ras Gene,ras Oncogenes,v H ras Genes,v H ras Oncogenes,v Ha ras Genes,v Ha ras Oncogenes,v K ras Genes,v K ras Oncogenes,v Ki ras Genes,v Ki ras Oncogenes,v-H-ras Gene,v-H-ras Oncogene,v-Ha-ras Gene,v-Ha-ras Oncogene,v-K-ras Gene,v-K-ras Oncogene,v-Ki-ras Gene,v-Ki-ras Oncogene
D002107 Caenorhabditis A genus of small free-living nematodes. Two species, CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS and C. briggsae are much used in studies of genetics, development, aging, muscle chemistry, and neuroanatomy. Caenorhabditides
D003001 Cloning, Molecular The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells. Molecular Cloning
D003360 Cosmids Plasmids containing at least one cos (cohesive-end site) of PHAGE LAMBDA. They are used as cloning vehicles. Cosmid
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004625 Embryo, Nonmammalian The developmental entity of a fertilized egg (ZYGOTE) in animal species other than MAMMALS. For chickens, use CHICK EMBRYO. Embryonic Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non-Mammalian,Nonmammalian Embryo,Nonmammalian Embryo Structures,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structures,Embryo Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryo Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non Mammalian,Embryos, Non-Mammalian,Embryos, Nonmammalian,Non-Mammalian Embryo,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structure,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structures,Non-Mammalian Embryos,Nonmammalian Embryo Structure,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structure,Nonmammalian Embryos,Structure, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryonic,Structures, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryonic
D005260 Female Females

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