title: Patterning of the C. elegans 1 degrees vulval lineage by RAS and Wnt pathways.
abstract: In C. elegans, the descendants of the 1 degrees vulval precursor cell (VPC) establish a fixed spatial pattern of two different cell fates: E-F-F-E. The two inner granddaughters attach to the somatic gonadal anchor cell (AC) and generate four vulF cells, while the two outer granddaughters produce four vulE progeny. zmp-1::GFP, a molecular marker that distinguishes these two fates, is expressed in vulE cells, but not vulF cells. We demonstrate that a short-range AC signal is required to ensure that the pattern of vulE and vulF fates is properly established. In addition, signaling between the inner and outer 1 degrees VPC descendants, as well as intrinsic polarity of the 1 degrees VPC daughters, is involved in the asymmetric divisions of the 1 degrees VPC daughters and the proper orientation of the outcome. Finally, we provide evidence that RAS signaling is used during this new AC signaling event, while the Wnt receptor LIN-17 appears to mediate signaling between the inner and outer 1 degrees VPC descendants.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D019070:Cell Lineage; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C101684:LIN-17 protein, C elegans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled