PAT-12, a potential anti-nematode target, is a new spectraplakin partner essential for Caenorhabditis elegans hemidesmosome integrity and embryonic morphogenesis.
Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic elongation depends on both epidermal and muscle cells. The hemidesmosome-like junctions, commonly called fibrous organelles (FOs), that attach the epidermis to the extracellular matrix ensure muscle anchoring to the cuticular exoskeleton and play an essential role during elongation. To further define how hemidesmosomes might control elongation, we searched for factors interacting with the core hemidesmosome component, the spectraplakin homolog VAB-10. Using the VAB-10 plakin domain as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the novel protein T17H7.4. We also identified T17H7.4 in an independent bioinformatic search for essential nematode-specific proteins that could define novel anti-nematode drug or vaccine targets. Interestingly, T17H7.4 corresponds to the C. elegans equivalent of the parasitic OvB20 antigen, and has a characteristic hemidesmosome distribution. We identified two mutations in T17H7.4, one of which defines the uncharacterized gene pat-12, previously identified in screens for genes required for muscle assembly. Using isoform-specific GFP constructs, we showed that one pat-12 isoform with a hemidesmosome distribution can rescue a pat-12 null allele. We further found that lack of pat-12 affects hemidesmosome integrity, with marked defects at the apical membrane. PAT-12 defines a novel component of C. elegans hemidesmosomes, which is required for maintaining their integrity. We suggest that PAT-12 helps maintaining VAB-10 attachment with matrix receptors.
Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Tthe Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Suzannah
S
Hetherington
Christelle
C
Gally
Julie-Anne
JA
Fritz
Jolanta
J
Polanowska
Jérôme
J
Reboul
Yannick
Y
Schwab
Hala
H
Zahreddine
Carolyn
C
Behm
Michel
M
Labouesse
D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D022002:Hemidesmosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D001678:Organelle Biogenesis; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins