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First published online February 24, 2006
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/dev.02275

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RNA-binding proteins SOP-2 and SOR-1 form a novel PcG-like complex in C. elegans

Tingting Zhang^*, Yinyan Sun^*, E Tian^*, Hansong Deng, Yuxia Zhang, Xin Luo, Qingchun Cai, Huayi Wang, Jijie Chai and Hong Zhang

National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Author for correspondence (e-mail: zhanghong{at}nibs.ac.cn)

Accepted 5 January 2006

We describe the identification and characterization of a novel PcG gene in C. elegans, sor-1, which is involved in global repression of Hox genes. sor-1 encodes a novel protein with an RNA-binding activity. We provide evidence that SOR-1 and the previously identified RNA-binding protein SOP-2 may constitute an RNA-binding complex in Hox gene repression. SOR-1 and SOP-2 directly interact with each other and are colocalized in nuclear bodies. The localization of SOR-1 depends on SOP-2. Surprisingly, homologs of SOR-1 and SOP-2 are not found in other organisms, including the congeneric species C. briggsae, suggesting an unexpected lack of evolutionary constraint on an essential global gene regulatory system.

Key words: sor-1, PcG, Nuclear bodies, SAM domain, C. elegans