A Wnt signaling pathway controls hox gene expression and neuroblast migration in C. elegans

The specification of body pattern along the anteroposterior (A/P) body axis is achieved largely by the actions of conserved clusters of Hox genes. Limiting expression of these genes to localized regional domains and controlling the precise patterns of expression within those domains is critically important for normal patterning. Here we report that egl-20, a C. elegans gene required to activate expression of the Hox gene mab-5 in the migratory neuroblast QL, encodes a member of the Wnt family of secreted glycoproteins. We have found that a second Wnt pathway gene, bar-1, which encodes a beta-catenin/Armadillo-like protein, is also required for activation of mab-5 expression in QL. In addition, we describe the gene pry-1, which is required to limit expression of the Hox genes lin-39, mab-5 and egl-5 to their correct local domains. We find that egl-20, pry-1 and bar-1 all function in a linear genetic pathway with conserved Wnt signaling components, suggesting that a conserved Wnt pathway activates expression of mab-5 in the migratory neuroblast QL. Moreover, we find that members of this Wnt signaling system play a major role in both the general and fine-scale control of Hox gene expression in other cell types along the A/P axis.