Regulatory machinery of UNC-33 Ce-CRMP localization in neurites during neuronal development in Caenorhabditis elegans

J Neurochem. 2005 Dec;95(6):1629-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03490.x. Epub 2005 Oct 17.

Abstract

In Caenorhabditis elegans, unc-33 encodes an orthologue of the vertebrate collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP) family. We previously reported that CRMP-2 accumulated in the distal part of the growing axon of vertebrate neurons and played critical roles in axon elongation. unc-33 mutants show axonal outgrowth defects in several neurons. It has been reported that UNC-33 accumulates in neurites, whereas a missense mutation causes the mislocalization of UNC-33 from neurites to cell body, which suggests that the localization of UNC-33 in neurites is important for axonal outgrowth. However, it is unclear how UNC-33 accumulates in neurites and regulates neuronal development. In this study, to understand the regulatory mechanisms of localization of UNC-33 in neurites, we screened for the mutants that were involved in the localization of UNC-33, and identified three mutants: unc-14 (RUN domain protein), unc-51 (ULK kinase) and unc-116 (kinesin heavy chain). UNC-14 is known to associate with UNC-51. UNC-116 forms a complex with KLC-2 as Kinesin-1, a microtubule-dependent motor complex. We found that UNC-33 interacted with UNC-14 and KLC-2 in vivo. These results suggest that the UNC-14/UNC-51 complex and Kinesin-1 are involved in the localization of UNC-33 in neurites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary / biosynthesis
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Microinjections
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Mutation, Missense / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Neurites / metabolism*
  • Neurites / physiology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / physiology

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • UNC-14 protein, C elegans
  • klc-1 protein, C elegans
  • unc-33 protein, C elegans
  • Kinesins