UNC-52/Perlecan affects gonadal leader cell migrations in c. elegans hermaphrodites through alterations in growth factor signaling

• Published in: Developmental biology 2003-04, Vol.256 (1), p.174-187
• Main Authors: Merz, David C, Alves, Georges, Kawano, Takehiro, Zheng, Hong, Culotti, Joseph G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; C. elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans - cytology; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - growth & development; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism; Cell migrations; Cell Movement - genetics; Disorders of Sex Development; Female; Genes, Helminth; Gonads - cytology; Gonads - growth & development; Gonads - metabolism; Growth Substances - genetics; Growth Substances - metabolism; Helminth Proteins - genetics; Helminth Proteins - metabolism; Larva - cytology; Larva - growth & development; Larva - metabolism; Male; Membrane Proteins; Muscles - metabolism; Mutation; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Netrins; Organogenesis; Perlecan; Phenotype; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases - genetics; Proteoglycans - genetics; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor - genetics; Signal Transduction; UNC-52
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0012-1606(03)00014-9

The unc-52 gene of Claenorhabditis elegans encodes a homologue of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan. Viable alleles reduce the abundance of UNC-52 in late larval stages and increase the frequency of distal tip cell (DTC) migration defects caused by mutations disrupting the UNC-6/netrin guidance system. These unc-52 alleles do not cause circumferential DTC migration defects in an otherwise wild-type genetic background. The effects of unc-52 mutations on DTC migrations are distinct from effects on myofilament organization and can be partially suppressed by mutations in several genes encoding growth factor-like molecules, including EGL-17/FGF, UNC-129/TGF-β, DBL-1/TGF-β, and EGL-20/WNT. We propose that UNC-52 serves dual roles in C. elegans larval development in the maintenance of muscle structure and the regulation of growth factor-like signaling pathways.