title: An FGF receptor signaling pathway is required for the normal cell migrations of the sex myoblasts in C. elegans hermaphrodites.
abstract: The sex myoblasts (SMs) in C. elegans hermaphrodites undergo anteriorly directed cell migrations that allow for the proper localization of the egg-laying muscles. These migrations are controlled in part by a signal emanating from gonadal cells that allows the SMs to be attracted to their precise final positions flanking the center of the gonad. Mutations in egl-15 alter the nature of the interaction between the gonad and the SMs, resulting in the posterior displacement of the SMs. Here we show that egl-15 encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) subfamily with multiple roles in development. Three genes were identified that behave genetically as activators or mediators of egl-15 activity. One of these genes, sem-5, encodes an adaptor molecule that transduces signals from a variety of receptor tyrosine kinases. Like egl-15 and sem-5, the other two genes may similarly act in FGFR signaling pathways in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8005, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: DeVore
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Horvitz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000166:cytology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000503:physiopathology; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
chemical_list: D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases