The BLMP-1 transcription factor promotes oscillatory gene expression to achieve timely molting

Abstract

Gene expression oscillators can coordinate developmental events in space and time. In C. elegans, a gene expression oscillator directs rhythmic accumulation of [~]25% of the transcriptome, and thus thousands of transcripts, presumably to control molting, a process of rhythmic skin regeneration. Recently, a reverse genetic screen identified several transcription factors important for molting. Here, we characterize one of these, BLMP-1, orthologous to the mammalian transcription repressor PRDM1. We find it to be important for timely molting, and oscillatory gene expression. We propose a dual function for BLMP-1 in shaping oscillatory gene expression and coupling it to a set of direct targets, which ensures cuticular integrity. With mammalian PRDM1/BLIMP1 promoting regular cycles of postnatal hair follicle regeneration, our findings point to the possible existence of a fundamentally conserved clock mechanism in control of rhythmic skin regeneration.