The ERK MAP kinase cascade mediates tail swelling and a protective response to rectal infection in C. elegans.
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is proving to be an attractive model organism for investigating innate immune responses to infection. Among the known pathogens of C. elegans is the bacterium Microbacterium nematophilum, which adheres to the nematode rectum and postanal cuticle, inducing swelling of the underlying hypodermal tissue and causing mild constipation. We find that on infection by M. nematophilum, an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade mediates tail swelling and protects C. elegans from severe constipation, which would otherwise arrest development and cause sterility. Involvement in pathogen defense represents a new role for ERK MAP kinase signaling in this organism.
Genetics Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom.
Hannah R
HR
Nicholas
Jonathan
J
Hodgkin
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012007:Rectum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013623:Tail / Q000503:physiopathology
D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases