Genetics of extracellular matrix remodeling during organ growth using the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx model.
Journal article, 2010

The organs of animal embryos are typically covered with an extracellular matrix (ECM) that must be carefully remodeled as these organs enlarge during post-embryonic growth; otherwise, their shape and functions may be compromised. We previously described the twisting of the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx (here called the Twp phenotype) as a quantitative mutant phenotype that worsens as that organ enlarges during growth. Mutations previously known to cause pharyngeal twist affect membrane proteins with large extracellular domains (DIG-1 and SAX-7), as well as a C. elegans septin (UNC-61). Here we show that two novel alleles of the C. elegans papilin gene, mig-6(et4) and mig-6(sa580), can also cause the Twp phenotype. We also show that overexpression of the ADAMTS protease gene mig-17 can suppress the pharyngeal twist in mig-6 mutants and identify several alleles of other ECM-related genes that can cause or influence the Twp phenotype, including alleles of fibulin (fbl-1), perlecan (unc-52), collagens (cle-1, dpy-7), laminins (lam-1, lam-3), one ADAM protease (sup-17), and one ADAMTS protease (adt-1). The Twp phenotype in C. elegans is easily monitored using light microscopy, is quantitative via measurements of the torsion angle, and reveals that ECM components, metalloproteinases, and ECM attachment molecules are important for this organ to retain its correct shape during post-embryonic growth. The Twp phenotype is therefore a promising experimental system to study ECM remodeling and diseases.

Author

Gholamali Jafari

University of Gothenburg

Jan Burghoorn

Takehiro Kawano

Manoj Mathew

University of Gothenburg

Catarina Mörck

University of Gothenburg

Claes Axäng

University of Gothenburg

Michael Ailion

James H Thomas

Joseph G Culotti

Peter Swoboda

Marc Pilon

University of Gothenburg

Genetics

1943-2631 (ISSN)

Vol. 186 3 969-82

Subject Categories

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Neurosciences

Biological Sciences

Developmental Biology

Zoology

Genetics

DOI

10.1534/genetics.110.120519

PubMed

20805556

More information

Created

10/10/2017