The ephrin VAB-2/EFN-1 functions in neuronal signaling to regulate epidermal morphogenesis in C. elegans.
The Eph receptor VAB-1 is required in neurons for epidermal morphogenesis during C. elegans embryogenesis. Two models were proposed for the non-autonomous 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.
Chin-Sang
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ID
Department of Biology, Sinsheimer Laboratories, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064, USA.
George
S E
SE
Ding
M
M
Moseley
S L
SL
Lynch
A S
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Chisholm
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AD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D036342:Ephrins; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D015398:Signal Transduction
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D036342:Ephrins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C403283:vab-2 protein, C elegans; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C111040:vab-1 protein, C elegans