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A C. elegans Ror receptor tyrosine kinase regulates cell motility and asymmetric cell division

W C Forrester1, M Dell, E Perens

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.

Nature
|September 7, 1999
PubMed

Insights

The Caenorhabditis elegans gene cam-1, encoding a Ror kinase, guides cell migration and orients cell division polarity. Its tyrosine kinase activity is crucial for some functions but not cell migration.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Ror kinases are orphan receptors with tyrosine kinase activity, related to muscle specific kinase (MuSK).
  • MuSK is crucial for acetylcholine receptor assembly at the neuromuscular junction.
  • The functions of Ror kinases remain largely unknown, but structural similarities to MuSK suggest roles in synaptic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Ror kinases in vivo.
  • To determine the role of the Caenorhabditis elegans gene cam-1, a Ror kinase family member, in cellular processes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism.
  • Studied the cam-1 gene, a Ror kinase family member.
  • Investigated CAM-1 function through overexpression and loss-of-function analyses.
  • Examined the requirement of tyrosine kinase activity for CAM-1 functions.

Main Results:

  • CAM-1 guides migrating cells and orients the polarity of asymmetric cell divisions and axon outgrowth.
  • Tyrosine kinase activity is essential for some CAM-1 functions, but not for its role in cell migration.
  • CAM-1 acts cell-autonomously in migrating neurons.
  • Altered cam-1 levels lead to reciprocal cell-migration phenotypes, indicating dose-dependent effects on cell positioning.

Conclusions:

  • CAM-1 plays a critical role in cell migration and polarity.
  • Ror kinases may regulate cell motility and asymmetric cell division across diverse species, including mammals.
  • The findings provide insights into the conserved functions of Ror kinases in developmental processes.

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