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Jiang, Y.* ; Hodgson, K.J.* ; Segos, I. ; Lambie, E.J.* ; Yang, L.* ; Pan, M.* ; Greig, A.* ; Conradt, B.*

Tagging of C. elegans apoptosis activator EGL-1 BH3-only reveals CED-9 BCL-2-dependent mitochondrial localization and dynamic control of EGL-1 synthesis and degradation in vivo.

Cell Death Differ., DOI: 10.1038/s41418-026-01682-0 (2026)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI PMC
Open Access Hybrid
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
The BH3-only protein EGL-1 is the key activator of apoptosis during C. elegans development. EGL-1 protein is thought to be synthesized predominantly in cells programmed to die and to localize to mitochondria. We used CRISPR-Cas-mediated modification of the egl-1 locus to add the coding sequence for the monomeric StayGold fluorescent protein or 18 copies of the SunTag peptide to the endogenous open reading frame. We found that tagged EGL-1 protein colocalizes with mitochondria in vivo and that mitochondrial localization is dependent on the anti-apoptotic BCL-2-like protein CED-9. Consistent with the presence of egl-1 mRNA in cells programmed to die as well as their progenitor cells ('mother' cells), EGL-1 protein is detected in both types of cells in vivo. Furthermore, real time imaging reveals that EGL-1 protein rapidly disappears from the mother cell prior to its division and that EGL-1 protein rapidly reappears specifically in the daughter cell programmed to die. Our results demonstrate CED-9 BCL-2-dependent mitochondrial localization of EGL-1 BH3-only protein and dynamic control of EGL-1 protein synthesis and degradation. Furthermore, we have identified additional levels of control of egl-1 BH3-only function that expand our understanding of apoptosis activation in vivo.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords Programmed Cell-death; Caenorhabditis-elegans; Gene-expression; Protein; Nematode; Encodes; Homolog; Complex
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1350-9047
e-ISSN 1476-5403
Journal Cell Death and Differentiation
Publisher Springer
Publishing Place Campus, 4 Crinan St, London, N1 9xw, England
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (HPC)
Grants China Scholarship Council (CSC)
Royal Society
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)
RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)