title: The contactin RIG-6 mediates neuronal and non-neuronal cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Cell adhesion molecules of the Immunoglobulin Superfamily (IgCAMs) are key factors in nervous system formation. The contactin subgroup of IgCAMs consists of GPI-anchored glycoproteins implicated in axon outgrowth, guidance, fasciculation and neuronal differentiation. The mechanism by which contactins facilitate neuronal development is not understood. To gain insight into the function of contactins, we characterized RIG-6, the sole contactin of Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that the contactin RIG-6 is involved in excretory cell (EC) tubular elongation. We also show that RIG-6 mediates axon outgrowth and guidance along both the anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axis, during C. elegans development. We find that optimal RIG-6 expression is critical for accurate mechanosensory neuron axon elongation and ventral nerve cord architecture. In addition, our data suggest that the cytoplasmic UNC-53/NAV2 proteins may contribute to relay signaling via contactins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Markella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katidou
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavernarakis
authors.forename: Domna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karagogeos
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D058966:Contactins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D058966:Contactins; D017931:DNA Primers; C577682:RIG-6 protein, C elegans