MIG-13 positions migrating cells along the anteroposterior body axis of C. elegans

Cell. 1999 Jul 9;98(1):25-36. doi: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80603-0.

Abstract

The C. elegans Q neuroblasts and their descendants migrate along the anteroposterior (A/P) body axis to positions that are not associated with any obvious landmarks. We find that a novel protein, MIG-13, is required to position these cells correctly. MIG-13 is a transmembrane protein whose expression is restricted to the anterior and central body regions by Hox gene activity. MIG-13 functions non-cell autonomously within these regions to promote migration toward the anterior: loss of mig-13 activity shifts the Q descendants toward the posterior, whereas increasing the level of MIG-13 shifts them anteriorly in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that MIG-13 is a component of a global A/P migration system, and that the level of MIG-13 determines where along the body axis these migrating cells stop.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Body Patterning
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mosaicism
  • Mutagenesis
  • Phenotype
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • MIG-13 protein, Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF150958