Acto-myosin reorganization and PAR polarity in C. elegans.
The symmetry-breaking event during polarization of C. elegans embryos is an asymmetric rearrangement of the acto-myosin network, which dictates cell polarity through the differential recruitment of PAR proteins. The sperm-supplied centrosomes are required to initiate this cortical reorganization. Several questions about this event remain unanswered: how is the acto-myosin network regulated during polarization and how does acto-myosin reorganization lead to asymmetric PAR protein distribution? As we discuss, recent studies show that C. elegans embryos use two GTPases, RHO-1 and CDC-42, to regulate these two steps in polarity establishment. Although RHO-1 and CDC-42 control distinct aspects of polarization, they function interdependently to regulate polarity establishment in C. elegans embryos.
Cowan
Carrie R
CR
Research Institute for Molecular Pathology, Dr Bohr-Gasse 7, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. cowan@imp.univie.ac.at
Hyman
Anthony A
AA
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C081779:cdc-42 protein, C elegans; D000205:Actomyosin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins