UNC-40, a C. elegans homolog of DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Cancer), is required in motile cells responding to UNC-6 netrin cues

Cell. 1996 Oct 18;87(2):187-95. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81337-9.

Abstract

UNC-6 netrin, a laminin-related protein secreted from neuroglia and neurons along the ventral midline, orients migrating cells and pioneering growth cones on the nematode epidermis. UNC-5, a cell surface protein expressed on motile cells and pioneer axons, orients movements away from UNC-6 sources. UNC-40, a homolog of the cell surface proteins DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Cancer) and neogenin, is also expressed on motile cells and pioneer neurons. UNC-40 acts cell autonomously to orient movement toward UNC-6 sources. For cells coexpressing UNC-5, it helps orient movement away from UNC-6 sources. Finally, UNC-40 helps determine the dorsoventral position of cells undergoing purely longitudinal migrations. Together with the recent report that DCC is a netrin receptor in vertebrates, our results suggest that UNC-40 is a component of UNC-6 receptors on motile cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
  • Nervous System / embryology
  • Netrin-1
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • RNA, Helminth / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • RNA, Helminth
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • UNC-40 protein, C elegans
  • neogenin
  • Netrin-1