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Use of an activated beta-catenin to identify Wnt pathway target genes in caenorhabditis elegans, including a subset of collagen genes expressed in late larval development.
Use of an activated beta-catenin to identify Wnt pathway target genes in caenorhabditis elegans, including a subset of collagen genes expressed in late larval development.
- Source :
-
G3 (Bethesda, Md.) [G3 (Bethesda)] 2014 Apr 16; Vol. 4 (4), pp. 733-47. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Apr 16. - Publication Year :
- 2014
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Abstract
- The Wnt signaling pathway plays a fundamental role during metazoan development, where it regulates diverse processes, including cell fate specification, cell migration, and stem cell renewal. Activation of the beta-catenin-dependent/canonical Wnt pathway up-regulates expression of Wnt target genes to mediate a cellular response. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a canonical Wnt signaling pathway regulates several processes during larval development; however, few target genes of this pathway have been identified. To address this deficit, we used a novel approach of conditionally activated Wnt signaling during a defined stage of larval life by overexpressing an activated beta-catenin protein, then used microarray analysis to identify genes showing altered expression compared with control animals. We identified 166 differentially expressed genes, of which 104 were up-regulated. A subset of the up-regulated genes was shown to have altered expression in mutants with decreased or increased Wnt signaling; we consider these genes to be bona fide C. elegans Wnt pathway targets. Among these was a group of six genes, including the cuticular collagen genes, bli-1 col-38, col-49, and col-71. These genes show a peak of expression in the mid L4 stage during normal development, suggesting a role in adult cuticle formation. Consistent with this finding, reduction of function for several of the genes causes phenotypes suggestive of defects in cuticle function or integrity. Therefore, this work has identified a large number of putative Wnt pathway target genes during larval life, including a small subset of Wnt-regulated collagen genes that may function in synthesis of the adult cuticle.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans growth & development
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins antagonists & inhibitors
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins metabolism
Collagen metabolism
Cytoskeletal Proteins antagonists & inhibitors
Cytoskeletal Proteins genetics
Cytoskeletal Proteins metabolism
Larva metabolism
Phenotype
RNA isolation & purification
RNA metabolism
RNA Interference
RNA, Small Interfering metabolism
Wnt Signaling Pathway
beta Catenin metabolism
Caenorhabditis elegans metabolism
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins genetics
Collagen genetics
beta Catenin genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2160-1836
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24569038
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.113.009522