RRC ID |
76077
|
Author |
Tsutsui K, Kim HS, Yoshikata C, Kimura K, Kubota Y, Shibata Y, Tian C, Liu J, Nishiwaki K.
|
Title |
Repulsive guidance molecule acts in axon branching in Caenorhabditis elegans.
|
Journal |
Sci Rep
|
Abstract |
Repulsive guidance molecules (RGMs) are evolutionarily conserved proteins implicated in repulsive axon guidance. Here we report the function of the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog DRAG-1 in axon branching. The axons of hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs) extend dorsal branches at the region abutting the vulval muscles. The drag-1 mutants exhibited defects in HSN axon branching in addition to a small body size phenotype. DRAG-1 expression in the hypodermal cells was required for the branching of the axons. Although DRAG-1 is normally expressed in the ventral hypodermis excepting the vulval region, its ectopic expression in vulval precursor cells was sufficient to induce the branching. The C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor of DRAG-1 was important for its function, suggesting that DRAG-1 should be anchored to the cell surface. Genetic analyses suggested that the membrane receptor UNC-40 acts in the same pathway with DRAG-1 in HSN branching. We propose that DRAG-1 expressed in the ventral hypodermis signals via the UNC-40 receptor expressed in HSNs to elicit branching activity of HSN axons.
|
Volume |
11(1)
|
Pages |
22370
|
Published |
2021-11-16
|
DOI |
10.1038/s41598-021-01853-8
|
PII |
10.1038/s41598-021-01853-8
|
PMID |
34785759
|
PMC |
PMC8595726
|
MeSH |
Animals
Axon Guidance*
Axons / metabolism*
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
Gene Expression Regulation*
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
|
Resource |
C.elegans |
tm3773 |