A pair as a minimum: the two fibroblast growth factors of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate many important developmental and homeostatic physiological events. The FGF superfamily contains several families. In this review, we present recent findings on the two FGFs of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans from both functional and phylogenic points of view. C. elegans has a single FGFR (EGL-15) with two functionally exclusive isoforms, and two FGFs (LET-756 and EGL-17), which play distinct roles: an essential function for the former, and guidance of the migrating sex myoblasts for the latter. Regulation of homeostasis by control of the fluid balance could be the basis for the essential function of LET-756. Phylogenetic and functional studies suggest that LET-756, like vertebrate FGF9, -16, and -20, belongs to the FGF9 family, whereas EGL-17, like vertebrate FGF8, -17, and -18, could be included in the FGF8 family.
Birnbaum
Daniel
D
Molecular Oncology Laboratory, UMR599 INSERM, 27 Bd. Lei Roure, 13009 Marseille, France. birnbaum@marseille.inserm.fr
Popovici
Cornel
C
Roubin
Régine
R
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C112493:EGL-15 protein, C elegans; C105157:Egl-17 protein, C elegans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C402375:Let-756 protein, C elegans; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors