WRM-1 activates the LIT-1 protein kinase to transduce anterior/posterior polarity signals in C. elegans

Cell. 1999 Jun 11;97(6):717-26. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80784-9.

Abstract

During C. elegans development, Wnt/WG signaling is required for differences in cell fate between sister cells born from anterior/posterior divisions. A beta-catenin-related gene, wrm-1, and the lit-1 gene are effectors of this signaling pathway and appear to downregulate the activity of POP-1, a TCF/LEF-related protein, in posterior daughter cells. We show here that lit-1 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase homolog related to the Drosophila tissue polarity protein Nemo. We demonstrate that the WRM-1 protein binds to LIT-1 in vivo and that WRM-1 can activate the LIT-1 protein kinase when coexpressed in vertebrate tissue culture cells. This activation leads to phosphorylation of POP-1 and to apparent changes in its subcellular localization. Our findings provide evidence for novel regulatory avenues for an evolutionarily conserved Wnt/WG signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism*
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trans-Activators*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Helminth Proteins
  • High Mobility Group Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mom-5 protein, C elegans
  • Trans-Activators
  • WRM-1 protein, C elegans
  • beta Catenin
  • pop-1 protein, C elegans
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • lit-1 protein, C elegans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF143243
  • GENBANK/AF143244