CGC Bibliography Paper 4959

A RHO GTPase-mediated pathway is required during P cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Spencer AG, Orita S, Malone CJ, Han M

Medline:

11687661

Citation:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98: 13132-13137 2001

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

ced-10 col-10 let-502 mig-2 rac-1 rho-1 unc-47 unc-73

Abstract:

The Rho family of guanine triphosphate hydrolases controls various cellular processes, including cell migration. We describe here the demonstration of a role for a RhoA GTPase homologue during cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that eliminating or reducing rho-1 gene function by using a dominant-negative transgene or dsRNA interference results in a severe defect in migration of hypodermal P cells to a ventral position. Biochemical and genetic data also suggest that unc-73, which encodes a Trio-like guanine nucleotide exchange factor, may act as an activator of rho-1 in the migration process. Mutations in let-502 ROCK, a homologue of a RhoA effector in mammals, also cause defects in P cell migration, suggesting that it may be one of several effectors acting downstream of rho-1 during P cell migration. Finally, we provide evidence to support the idea that other small Rac subfamily small GTPases act redundantly and in parallel to RHO-1 in this specific cell migration event.