The gene
mau-2 (maternal effect uncoordinated) is defined by four recessive viable-maternal effect mutations1, which lead to severe uncoordination and defective egg-laying. The locomotory defects are fully maternally rescued by the presence of a wild-type copy of the gene in the mother, while the egg-laying defect is not. It appears that
mau-2 functions early in development for the wiring of the locomotory system, as well as later during the morphogenesis of the egg-laying system. Mutations in
mau-2 result in the mispositioning of numerous migrating neurons and axons, including pioneer axons, along both body axes. Thus,
mau-2 is required for the guided migration of cells and axons during the development of the nervous system2. We have molecularly identified the gene
mau-2 and it encodes a novel protein that displays significant similarity to predicted proteins in Drosophila, zebrafish, mammals, and Arabidopsis, but whose functions have not been characterized. From late gastrulating embryos to mid-embryogenesis, a functional MAU-2::GFP fusion is expressed ubiquitously. It then becomes restricted to the nervous system. In all cases, the protein is found in the cytoplasm. We have further shown that
mau-2 acts cell-autonomously, likely participating in the intracellular interpretation of guidance cues. References: 1. Hekimi S, Boutis P, Lakowski B. (1995) Genetics, 141, 1351; 2. Takagi S, Benard C, Pak J, Livingstone D, Hekimi S. (1997) Development 124, 5115.