Abstract
In C. elegans, the epithelial Pn.p cells adopt either a vulval precursor cell fate or fuse with the surrounding hypodermis (the F fate). Our results suggest that a Wnt signal transduced through a pathway involving the beta-catenin homolog BAR-1 controls whether P3.p through P8.p adopt the vulval precursor cell fate. In bar-1 mutants, P3.p through P8.p can adopt F fates instead of vulval precursor cell fates. The Wnt/bar-1 signaling pathway acts by regulating the expression of the Hox gene lin-39, since bar-1 is required for LIN-39 expression and forced lin-39 expression rescues the bar-1 mutant phenotype. LIN-39 activity is also regulated by the anchor cell signal/let-23 receptor tyrosine kinase/let-60 Ras signaling pathway. Our genetic and molecular experiments show that the vulval precursor cells can integrate the input from the BAR-1 and LET-60 Ras signaling pathways by coordinately regulating activity of the common target LIN-39 Hox.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Body Patterning / genetics
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Cadherins / genetics
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Cadherins / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
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Embryonic Development
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ErbB Receptors / genetics
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ErbB Receptors / physiology
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Genes, Homeobox*
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Helminth Proteins / genetics
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Helminth Proteins / physiology
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
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Homeodomain Proteins / physiology
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Trans-Activators*
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Vulva / growth & development
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beta Catenin
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ras Proteins / genetics
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ras Proteins / physiology*
Substances
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Cadherins
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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Helminth Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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bar-1 protein, C elegans
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beta Catenin
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lin-39 protein, C elegans
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let-60 protein, C elegans
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ErbB Receptors
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let-23 protein, C elegans
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ras Proteins