Morphogenesis of the C. elegans Intestine Involves Axon Guidance Genes.
Alparsan Asan1, Stephan A Raiders1, James R Priess1,2,3
1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Plos Genetics
|April 2, 2016
Summary
The C. elegans intestine develops from a single progenitor cell into a 20-cell epithelial tube. This study reveals new insights into the cell movements and signaling pathways, including VANG-1/Van Gogh and LIN-12/Notch, that shape this complex organ.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Understanding how progenitor cells form complex 3D tissues is crucial in developmental biology.
- The C. elegans intestine, derived from the E blastomere, offers a simplified model for studying epithelial tube formation.
- Previous research has identified key signaling pathways but lacked detailed insights into the dynamic morphogenesis of the intestine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the 3D morphogenesis of the C. elegans intestine.
- To provide a detailed 3D reconstruction of intestine development from a single progenitor.
- To identify novel genes and signaling pathways involved in tissue shaping and cell repositioning.
Main Methods:
- 3D graphic reconstruction of intestine development using cell contours traced from confocal optical z-stacks.
- Analysis of cell division orientation and cell repositioning events.
- Investigation of the roles of specific signaling pathways and molecules, including VANG-1/Van Gogh, LIN-12/Notch, EFN-4/Ephrin, MAB-20/semaphorin-2a, SAX-3/Robo, UNC-6/netrin, UNC-40/DCC, and MADD-2.
Main Results:
- The first 8 descendants form a planar arrangement of left and right cells, regulated by oriented divisions and VANG-1/Van Gogh.
- LIN-12/Notch signaling influences early cell packing and initiates later asymmetry.
- Complex cell repositioning and intercalation events, involving adhesion dynamics and guidance cues (EFN-4, MAB-20, SAX-3), establish the final cell order.
- Anterior cell rotation, crucial for lumen formation, is mediated by UNC-6/netrin, UNC-40/DCC, and MADD-2, with LIN-12/Notch signaling playing a role in right-side cells.
Conclusions:
- The C. elegans intestine's development involves intricate, coordinated cell movements and signaling.
- Morphogenesis relies on precise regulation of cell adhesion, division, repositioning, and rotation.
- This study provides a detailed spatiotemporal understanding of tissue formation, highlighting conserved developmental principles.
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