CGC Bibliography Paper 5102

SEK-1 MAPKK mediates Ca2+ signaling to determine neuronal asymmetric development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Tanaka-Hino M, Sagasti A, Hisamoto N, Kawasaki M, Nakano S, Ninomiya-Tsuji J, Bargmann CI, Matsumoto K

Medline:

11751572

Citation:

EMBO Reports 3: 56-62 2002

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

nsy-1 odr-3 sek-1 str-2 unc-2 unc-36 unc-43

Abstract:

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a highly conserved signaling cascade that converts extracellular signals into various outputs. In Caenorhabditis elegans, asymmetric expression of the candidate odorant receptor STR-2 in either the left or the right of two bilaterally symmetrical olfactory AWC neurons is regulated by axon contact and Ca2+ signaling. We show that the MAPK kinase (MAPKK) SEK-1 is required for asymmetric expression in AWC neurons. Genetic and biochemical analyses reveal that SEK-1 functions in a pathway downstream of UNC-43 and NSY-1, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK), respectively. Thus, the NSY-1-SEK-1-MAPK cascade is activated by Ca2+ signaling through CaMKII and establishes asymmetric cell fate decision during neuronal development.