Abstract
The unc-52 gene of Claenorhabditis elegans encodes a homologue of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan. Viable alleles reduce the abundance of UNC-52 in late larval stages and increase the frequency of distal tip cell (DTC) migration defects caused by mutations disrupting the UNC-6/netrin guidance system. These unc-52 alleles do not cause circumferential DTC migration defects in an otherwise wild-type genetic background. The effects of unc-52 mutations on DTC migrations are distinct from effects on myofilament organization and can be partially suppressed by mutations in several genes encoding growth factor-like molecules, including EGL-17/FGF, UNC-129/TGF-beta, DBL-1/TGF-beta, and EGL-20/WNT. We propose that UNC-52 serves dual roles in C. elegans larval development in the maintenance of muscle structure and the regulation of growth factor-like signaling pathways.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Movement / genetics
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Disorders of Sex Development
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Female
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Genes, Helminth
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Gonads / cytology*
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Gonads / growth & development
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Gonads / metabolism
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Growth Substances / genetics
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Growth Substances / metabolism
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Helminth Proteins / genetics*
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Helminth Proteins / metabolism
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Larva / cytology
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Larva / growth & development
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Larva / metabolism
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Male
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Membrane Proteins*
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Muscles / metabolism
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins*
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Netrins
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Phenotype
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / genetics
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Proteoglycans / genetics*
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Proteoglycans / metabolism
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Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / genetics
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Signal Transduction
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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EGL-15 protein, C elegans
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Growth Substances
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Helminth Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Netrins
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Proteoglycans
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
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UNC-6 protein, C elegans
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unc-52 protein, C elegans
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UNC-5 protein, C elegans
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CLR-1 protein, C elegans
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Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
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Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases