The PLEXIN PLX-2 and the ephrin EFN-4 have distinct roles in MAB-20/Semaphorin 2A signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans morphogenesis

Genetics. 2007 Jul;176(3):1591-607. doi: 10.1534/genetics.106.067116. Epub 2007 May 16.

Abstract

Semaphorins are extracellular proteins that regulate axon guidance and morphogenesis by interacting with a variety of cell surface receptors. Most semaphorins interact with plexin-containing receptor complexes, although some interact with non-plexin receptors. Class 2 semaphorins are secreted molecules that control axon guidance and epidermal morphogenesis in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that the C. elegans class 2 semaphorin MAB-20 binds the plexin PLX-2. plx-2 mutations enhance the phenotypes of hypomorphic mab-20 alleles but not those of mab-20 null alleles, indicating that plx-2 and mab-20 act in a common pathway. Both mab-20 and plx-2 mutations affect epidermal morphogenesis during embryonic and in postembryonic development. In both contexts, plx-2 null mutant phenotypes are much less severe than mab-20 null phenotypes, indicating that PLX-2 is not essential for MAB-20 signaling. Mutations in the ephrin efn-4 do not synergize with mab-20, indicating that EFN-4 may act in MAB-20 signaling. EFN-4 and PLX-2 are coexpressed in the late embryonic epidermis where they play redundant roles in MAB-20-dependent cell sorting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology*
  • Ephrin-A4 / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Morphogenesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Semaphorins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Ephrin-A4
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Semaphorins
  • mab-20 protein, C elegans
  • plexin