PAR-3 is required for epithelial cell polarity in the distal spermatheca of C. elegans.
PAR-3 is localized asymmetrically in epithelial cells in a variety of animals from Caenorhabditis elegans to mammals. Although C. elegans PAR-3 is known to act in early blastomeres to polarize the embryo, a role for PAR-3 in epithelial cells of C. elegans has not been established. Using RNA interference to deplete PAR-3 in developing larvae, we discovered a requirement for PAR-3 in spermathecal development. Spermathecal precursor cells are born during larval development and differentiate into an epithelium that forms a tube for the storage of sperm. Eggs must enter the spermatheca to complete ovulation. PAR-3-depleted worms exhibit defects in ovulation. Consistent with this phenotype, PAR-3 is transiently expressed and localized asymmetrically in the developing somatic gonad, including the spermathecal precursor cells of L4 larvae. We found that the defect in ovulation can be partially suppressed by a mutation in IPP-5, an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, indicating that one effect of PAR-3 depletion is disruption of signaling between oocyte and spermatheca. Microscopy revealed that the distribution of AJM-1, an apical junction marker, and apical microfilaments are severely affected in the distal spermatheca of PAR-3-depleted worms. We propose that PAR-3 activity is required for the proper polarization of spermathecal cells and that defective ovulation results from defective distal spermathecal development.
Aono
Shinya
S
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 107 Biotechnology Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Legouis
Renaud
R
Hoose
Wendy A
WA
Kemphues
Kenneth J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010060:Ovulation; D010641:Phenotype; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C512642:par-6 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C097238:PAR-3 protein, C elegans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C115015:PKC-3 protein; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases