question: What is the role of Caenorhabditis elegans Heterochromatin protein 1 (HPL-2) in development?
answer: Caenorhabditis elegans Heterochromatin protein 1 (HPL-2) links developmental plasticity, longevity and lipid metabolism. HPL-2 regulates the expression of germline genes, extracellular matrix components and genes involved in lipid metabolism. In addition, HPL-2 regulates the dauer developmental decision, a striking example of phenotypic plasticity in which environmental conditions determine developmental fate. Furthermore, it is required for the formation of a functional germline and for the development of the vulva by acting in an Rb-related pathway.