| RRC ID |
65222
|
| Author |
Kalichamy SS, Alcantara AV Jr, Kim BS, Park J, Yoon KH, Lee JI.
|
| Title |
Muscle and epidermal contributions of the structural protein β-spectrin promote hypergravity-induced motor neuron axon defects in C. elegans.
|
| Journal |
Sci Rep
|
| Abstract |
Biology is adapted to Earth's gravity force, and the long-term effects of varying gravity on the development of animals is unclear. Previously, we reported that high gravity, called hypergravity, increases defects in the development of motor neuron axons in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we show that a mutation in the unc-70 gene that encodes the cytoskeletal β-spectrin protein suppresses hypergravity-induced axon defects. UNC-70 expression is required in both muscle and epidermis to promote the axon defects in high gravity. We reveal that the location of axon defects is correlated to the size of the muscle cell that the axon traverses. We also show that mutations that compromise key proteins of hemidesmosomal structures suppress hypergravity-induced axon defects. These hemidesmosomal structures play a crucial role in coupling mechanical force between the muscle, epidermis and the external cuticle. We speculate a model in which the rigid organization of muscle, epidermal and cuticular layers under high gravity pressure compresses the narrow axon migration pathways in the extracellular matrix hindering proper axon pathfinding of motor neurons.
|
| Volume |
10(1)
|
| Pages |
21214
|
| Published |
2020-12-3
|
| DOI |
10.1038/s41598-020-78414-y
|
| PII |
10.1038/s41598-020-78414-y
|
| PMID |
33273580
|
| PMC |
PMC7713079
|
| MeSH |
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Axons*
Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
Epidermis / metabolism
Hypergravity*
Motor Neurons / metabolism*
Muscles / metabolism
Spectrin / genetics
Spectrin / metabolism*
|
| Resource |
| C.elegans |
tm677 |
