title: Cell polarity and gastrulation in C. elegans.
abstract: Gastrulation in C. elegans embryos involves formation of a blastocoel and the ingression of surface cells into the blastocoel. Mutations in the par-3 gene cause abnormal separations between embryonic cells, suggesting that the PAR-3 protein has a role in blastocoel formation. In normal development, PAR proteins localize to either the apical or basal surfaces of cells prior to blastocoel formation; we demonstrate that this localization is determined by cell contacts. Cells that ingress into the blastocoel undergo an apical flattening associated with an apical concentration of non-muscle myosin. We provide evidence that ingression times are determined by genes that control cell fate, though interactions with neighboring cells can prevent ingression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nance
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Priess
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D019070:Cell Lineage; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005775:Gastrula / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C097238:PAR-3 protein, C elegans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases