The Fat-like cadherin CDH-4 controls axon fasciculation, cell migration and hypodermis and pharynx development in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Cadherins are one of the major families of adhesion molecules with diverse functions during embryonic development. Fat-like cadherins form an evolutionarily conserved subgroup characterized by an unusually large number of cadherin repeats in the extracellular domain. Here we describe the role of the Fat-like cadherin CDH-4 in Caenorhabditis elegans development. Cdh-4 mutants are characterized by hypodermal defects leading to incompletely penetrant embryonic or larval lethality with variable morphogenetic defects. Independently of the morphogenetic defects cdh-4 mutant animals also exhibit fasciculation defects in the ventral and dorsal cord, the major longitudinal axon tracts, as well as migration defects of the Q neuroblasts. In addition CDH-4 is essential for establishing and maintaining the attachment between the buccal cavity and the pharynx. Cdh-4 is expressed widely in most affected cells and tissues during embryogenesis suggesting that CDH-4 functions to ensure that proper cell contacts are made and maintained during development.
Schmitz
Caroline
C
Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Wacker
Irene
I
Hutter
Harald
H
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005207:Fasciculation; D010614:Pharynx / Q000196:embryology*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology
C528530:CDH-4 protein, C elegans; D015820:Cadherins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins