title: α integrin cytoplasmic tails can rescue the loss of Rho-family GTPase signaling in the C. elegans somatic gonad.
abstract: Integrin signaling relies on multiple, distinct pathways to impact a diverse set of cell behaviors. The Rho family of GTPases are well-established downstream signaling partners of integrins that regulate cell shape, polarity, and migration. The nematode C. elegans provides a simple in vivo system for studying both integrins and the Rho family. Our previous work showed that the C. elegans α integrin cytoplasmic tails have tissue-specific functions during development. Here, we use chimeric α integrins to show that the cytoplasmic tails can rescue the loss of the Rho family of GTPases in three cell types in the somatic gonad. Knockdown of rho-1 by RNAi causes defects in sheath cell actin organization, ovulation, and vulva morphology. Chimeric α integrin ina-1 with the pat-2 cytoplasmic tail can rescue both actin organization and ovulation after rho-1 RNAi, yet cannot restore vulva morphology. Knockdown of cdc-42 by RNAi causes defects in sheath cell actin organization, ovulation, vulva morphology, and distal tip cell migration. Chimeric α integrin pat-2 with the ina-1 cytoplasmic tail can rescue vulva morphology defects and distal tip cell migration after cdc-42 RNAi, yet cannot restore sheath cell actin organization or ovulation. Disruption of Rac yields the same phenotype in distal tip cells regardless of α integrin cytoplasmic tail composition. Taken together, the cytoplasmic tails of α integrins can bypass signaling from members of the Rho family of GTPases during development.
authors.affiliation: Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, United States. Electronic address: christopher.meighan@cnu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Meighan
authors.affiliation: Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, United States.
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, United States.
authors.forename: Elena C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Krahe
authors.affiliation: Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, United States.
authors.forename: Adriel J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gaeta
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism*; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: C. elegans; Cdc42; Gonadogenesis; Integrins; Rac; Rho