Abstract
The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family is a conserved group of signalling molecules within the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. This group, including the Drosophila decapentaplegic (dpp) protein and the mammalian BMPs, mediates cellular interactions and tissue differentiation during development. Here we show that a homologue of human BMPs controls a developmental switch in the life cycle of the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Starvation and overcrowding induce C. elegans to form a developmentally arrested, third-stage dauer larva. The daf-4 gene, which acts to inhibit dauer larva formation and promote growth, encodes a receptor protein kinase similar to the daf-1, activin and TGF-beta receptor serine/threonine kinases. When expressed in monkey COS cells, the daf-4 receptor binds human BMP-2 and BMP-4. The daf-4 receptor is the first to be identified for any growth factor in the BMP family.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Base Sequence
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cell Line
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DNA
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DNA Transposable Elements
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Growth / genetics
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Haplorhini
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Helminth Proteins / genetics
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Helminth Proteins / metabolism*
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Humans
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Larva / genetics
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Larva / growth & development
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Protein Binding
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
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Proteins / genetics*
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
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Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta*
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Recombinant Proteins
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Substances
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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DNA Transposable Elements
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Helminth Proteins
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Proteins
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Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Recombinant Proteins
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daf-4 protein, C elegans
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DNA
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases