CRIP homologues maintain apical cytoskeleton to regulate tubule size in C. elegans.
Maintenance of the shape and diameter of biological tubules is a critical task in the development and physiology of all metazoan organisms. We have cloned the exc-9 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans, which regulates the diameter of the single-cell excretory canal tubules. exc-9 encodes a homologue of the highly expressed mammalian intestinal LIM-domain protein CRIP, whose function has not previously been determined. A second well-conserved CRIP homologue functions in multiple valves of C. elegans. EXC-9 shows genetic interactions with other EXC proteins, including the EXC-5 guanine exchange factor that regulates CDC-42 activity. EXC-9 and its nematode homologue act in polarized epithelial cells that must maintain great flexibility at their apical surface; our results suggest that CRIPs function to maintain cytoskeletal flexibility at the apical surface.
Tong
Xiangyan
X
Department of Molecular Biosciences, 1200 Sunnyside Drive, 8035 Haworth Hall, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7534, USA. tongx@uci.edu
Buechner
Matthew
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008322:Mammals; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C528930:Exc-9 protein, C elegans; D008667:Metalloproteins; C528931:VALV-1 protein, C elegans