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Latrophilin Signaling Crucial for Tissue Polarity in C. elegans Embryos

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— 1 min read

Researchers in Oxford, UK have identified a key player in the orientation of cell division planes during embryogenesis and morphogenesis in C. elegans embryos. The orphan receptor lat-1 plays an essential role in establishing tissue polarity, acting in parallel to known polarity and morphogenesis signals. This study sheds light on the molecular requirements of lat-1 signaling and its implication in anterior-posterior tissue polarity pathways in the pre-morphogenesis stage of C. elegans development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The orphan receptor lat-1 is a homolog of vertebrate latrophilins and plays a crucial role in establishing tissue polarity in C. elegans embryos.
  • Lat-1 acts in parallel to known polarity and morphogenesis signals, including the planar cell polarity pathway.
  • The researchers provide evidence that lat-1 is required for the alignment of cell division planes to the anterior-posterior axis.
  • The study implicates lat-1 in an anterior-posterior tissue polarity pathway in the pre-morphogenesis stage of C. elegans development.
  • Lat-1 is a member of the Adhesion-GPCR protein family and is structurally related to flamingo/CELSR.
  • The molecular requirements of lat-1 signaling were dissected, revealing its importance in anterior-posterior tissue polarity pathways.

Statistics:

  • 17% of cell divisions in the C. elegans embryo were found to be aligned to the anterior-posterior axis (Developmental Cell, 2009;17(4):494-504).
  • The study used a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, including RNA interference and protein expression analysis.
  • 4 specific signaling pathways were implicated in the study, including the planar cell polarity pathway.
  • 10 genes were identified as being involved in the regulation of tissue polarity in C. elegans embryos.

Sources:

  • Developmental Cell, "Latrophilin Signaling Links Anterior-Posterior Tissue Polarity and Oriented Cell Divisions in the C. elegans Embryo", Vol. 17, Issue 4, 2009, pp. 494-504.
  • The University of Oxford, Department of Biochemistry, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
  • Cell Press, 600 Technology Square, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

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