The long and the short of Wnt signaling in C. elegans.
The simplicity of C. elegans makes it an outstanding system to study the role of Wnt signaling in development. Many asymmetric cell divisions in C. elegans require the Wnt/beta-catenin asymmetry pathway. Recent studies confirm that SYS-1 is a structurally and functionally divergent beta-catenin, and implicate lipids and retrograde trafficking in maintenance of WRM-1/beta-catenin asymmetry. Wnts also regulate short-range events such as spindle rotation and gastrulation, and a PCP-like pathway regulates asymmetric divisions. Long-range, cell non-autonomous Wnt signals regulate vulval induction. Both short-range and long-range Wnt signal s are regulated by recycling of MIG-14/Wntless via the retromer complex. These studies indicate that C. elegans continues to be useful for identifying new, conserved mechanisms underlying Wnt signaling in metazoans.
Hardin
Jeff
J
Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, 1117 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA. jdhardin@wisc.edu
King
Ryan S
RS
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C527888:Mig-14 protein, C elegans; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin