The Ephrin VAB-2/EFN-1 Functions in Neuronal Signaling to Regulate Epidermal Morphogenesis in C. elegans

• Published in: Cell 1999-12, Vol.99 (7), p.781-790
• Main Authors: Chin-Sang, Ian D, George, Sean E, Ding, Mei, Moseley, Sarah L, Lynch, Andrew S, Chisholm, Andrew D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans - embryology; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cloning, Molecular; EFN-1 protein; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Ephrins; Epidermis - embryology; Helminth Proteins - genetics; Helminth Proteins - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Larva; Microscopy, Confocal; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphogenesis; Neurons - metabolism; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Signal Transduction; VAB-2 protein
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81675-X

The Eph receptor VAB-1 is required in neurons for epidermal morphogenesis during C. elegans embryogenesis. Two models were proposed for the nonautonomous role of VAB-1: neuronal VAB-1 might signal directly to epidermis, or VAB-1 signaling between neurons might be required for epidermal development. We show that the ephrin VAB-2 (also known as EFN-1) is a ligand for VAB-1 and can function in neurons to regulate epidermal morphogenesis. In the absence of VAB-1 signaling, ephrin-expressing neurons are disorganized. vab-2/efn-1 mutations synergize with vab-1 kinase alleles, suggesting that VAB-2/EFN-1 may partly function in a kinase-independent VAB-1 pathway. Our data indicate that ephrin signaling between neurons is required nonautonomously for epidermal morphogenesis in C. elegans .