An invariant spatial pattern of three cell fates (3 degrees-3 degrees-2 degrees-1 degree-2 degrees-3 degrees) is generated from a field of multipotent precursor cells during C. elegans vulval development. We demonstrate that the epidermal growth factor-like domain of the LIN-3 protein can induce either of two distinct vulval cell fates: a high dose of LIN-3 induces a 1 degree fate; a lower dose...

The let-23 receptor/mpk-1 MAP kinase signaling pathway induces the vulva in C. elegans. We show that MPK-1 directly regulates both the LIN-31 winged-helix and the LIN-1 Ets transcription factors to specify the vulval cell fate. lin-31 and lin-1 act genetically downstream of mpk-1, and both proteins can be directly phosphorylated by MAP kinase. LIN-31 binds to LIN-1, and the LIN-1/LIN-31 complex...

This guideline offers recommendation on the management of a range of vulval disorders which may present to genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. Vulval disorders represent a disparate group of conditions with a variety of causes, affecting a particular anatomical site and may affect women of any age. These guidelines concentrate on a selected group of conditions, whichmay bemanaged by genitouri...

Regulation of spatio-temporal gene expression in diverse cell and tissue types is a critical aspect of development. Progression through Caenorhabditis elegans vulval development leads to the generation of seven distinct vulval cell types (vulA, vulB1, vulB2, vulC, vulD, vulE, and vulF), each with its own unique gene expression profile. The mechanisms that establish the precise spatial patternin...

A new record species Heterodera ripae was found in the rhizosphere soil of nettle (Urtica sp.) on the bank of the Mangniu River in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. The new record species can be characterized by vulval cone bifenestrate with circular or subcircular semifenestrae, vulval slit length averaging 34.2 μm, vulval bridge mostly broad, underbridge weak, bullae absent; the second...

During vulval development in the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite, the fates of six vulval precursor cells (VPCs) are influenced by distinct cell signaling events. In one event, a somatic gonadal cell, the anchor cell, induces the three nearest VPCs to adopt vulval cell fates. In another event, lateral signaling between adjacent VPCs specifies one of two different vulval fates, 1 degrees an...