Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025

A Simple Microfluidic Chip for Long-Term Growth and Imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: April 11, 2022
Atypical TGF-β signaling controls neuronal guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans
Oguzhan Baltaci1, Mikael Egebjerg Pedersen2, Tessa Sherry1
1Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
Abstract:
Coordinated expression of cell adhesion and signaling molecules is crucial for brain development. Here, we report that the Caenorhabditis elegans transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) type I receptor SMA-6 (small-6) acts independently of its cognate TGF-β type II receptor DAF-4 (dauer formation-defective-4) to control neuronal guidance. SMA-6 directs neuronal development from the hypodermis through interactions with three, orphan, TGF-β ligands. Intracellular signaling downstream of SMA-6 limits expression of NLR-1, an essential Neurexin-like cell adhesion receptor, to enable neuronal guidance. Together, our data identify an atypical TGF-β-mediated regulatory mechanism to ensure correct neuronal development.
Related Concept Videos
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

