TOCA-2 regulates gonad development in C. elegans

C. elegans gonad development and maintenance involve the coordinated integration of biochemical signalling and mechanical forces. Here, we identify a previously unrecognized role for Ce TOCA-2 , the C. elegans ortholog of mammalian TOCA-1 , in maintaining the structural integrity and morphogenesis of the C. elegans gonad. Animals lacking TOCA-2 exhibit pronounced architectural defects, including aberrant gonad morphology, premature distal gonad shrinkage, and disorganized syncytial germline, which alter the spatial patterns of cytoplasmic flow in the syncytium. Our findings establish TOCA-2 as a key regulator of gonad morphogenesis and an important link between cytoskeletal organization and organogenesis in C. elegans .