crm-1 facilitates BMP signaling to control body size in Caenorhabditis elegans.
We have identified in Caenorhabditis elegans a homologue of the vertebrate Crim1, crm-1, which encodes a putative transmembrane protein with multiple cysteine-rich (CR) domains known to have bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) binding activity. Using the body morphology of C. elegans as an indicator, we showed that attenuation of crm-1 activity leads to a small body phenotype reminiscent of that of BMP pathway mutants. We showed that the crm-1 loss-of-function phenotype can be rescued by constitutive supply of sma-4 activity. crm-1 can enhance BMP signaling and this activity is dependent on the presence of the DBL-1 ligand and its receptors. crm-1 is expressed in neurons at the ventral nerve cord, where the DBL-1 ligand is produced. However, ectopic expression experiments reveal that crm-1 gene products act outside the DBL-1 producing cells and function non-autonomously to facilitate dbl/sma pathway signaling to control body size.
Fung
Wong Yan
WY
Department of Biology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China.
Fat
Ko Frankie Chi
KF
Eng
Cheah Kathryn Song
CK
Lau
Chow King
CK
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C117509:Dbl-1 protein, C elegans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C524627:crm-1 protein, C elegans