Abstract
The rapid engulfment (phagocytosis) of cells undergoing programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a fundamental biological process that is not well understood. Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of ced-6, a gene specifically required for the engulfment of apoptotic cells in the nematode C. elegans. The CED-6 protein contains a phosphotyrosine binding domain at its N terminus and a proline/serine-rich region in its C-terminal half. Genetic mosaic analysis demonstrates that ced-6 acts within engulfing cells. We also show that ced-6 can promote the engulfment of cells at both early and late stages of apoptosis. Our data suggest that CED-6 is an adaptor molecule acting in a signal transduction pathway that specifically mediates the recognition and engulfment of apoptotic cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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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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Apoptosis / genetics*
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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Base Sequence
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Cloning, Molecular
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Genes, Helminth / genetics
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Genes, Helminth / physiology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mosaicism
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Mutation
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Phagocytosis / genetics*
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Phosphoproteins / genetics
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Phosphoproteins / physiology*
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Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
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RNA, Helminth / analysis
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Signal Transduction
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src Homology Domains
Substances
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Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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CED-6 protein, C elegans
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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RNA, Helminth
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RNA, Messenger
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Phosphotyrosine