title: Control of developmental networks by Rac/Rho small GTPases: How cytoskeletal changes during embryogenesis are orchestrated.
abstract: Small GTPases in the Rho family act as major nodes with functions beyond cytoskeletal rearrangements shaping the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo during development. These small GTPases are key signal transducers that integrate diverse developmental signals to produce a coordinated response in the cell. In C. elegans, the best studied members of these highly conserved Rho family small GTPases, RHO-1/RhoA, CED-10/Rac, and CDC-42, are crucial in several cellular processes dealing with cytoskeletal reorganization. In this review, we update the functions described for the Rho family small GTPases in spindle orientation and cell division, engulfment, and cellular movements during C. elegans embryogenesis, focusing on the Rho subfamily Rac. Please also see the video abstract here.
authors: Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Sáenz-Narciso
authors: Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Gómez-Orte
authors: Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain.
authors: Angelina
authors: A
authors: Zheleva
authors: Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Gastaca
authors: Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Cabello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C407268:CED-10 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C081779:cdc-42 protein, C elegans; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C560609:RHO-1 protein, C elegans; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; Rac; Rho; cytoskeletal rearrangements; embryonic development; small GTPases