Cell intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling controls neuroblast migration in C. elegans

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cell intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling controls neuroblast migration in C. elegans

AU - Mentink, Remco A

AU - Middelkoop, Teije C

AU - Rella, Lorenzo

AU - Ji, Ni

AU - Tang, Chung Yin

AU - Betist, Marco C

AU - van Oudenaarden, Alexander

AU - Korswagen, Hendrik C

PY - 2014/10/27

Y1 - 2014/10/27

N2 - Members of the Wnt family of secreted signaling proteins are key regulators of cell migration and axon guidance. In the nematode C. elegans, the migration of the QR neuroblast descendants requires multiple Wnt ligands and receptors. We found that the migration of the QR descendants is divided into three sequential phases that are each mediated by a distinct Wnt signaling mechanism. Importantly, the transition from the first to the second phase, which is the main determinant of the final position of the QR descendants along the anteroposterior body axis, is mediated through a cell-autonomous process in which the time-dependent expression of a Wnt receptor turns on the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling response that is required to terminate long-range anterior migration. Our results show that, in addition to direct guidance of cell migration by Wnt morphogenic gradients, cell migration can also be controlled indirectly through cell-intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling responses.

AB - Members of the Wnt family of secreted signaling proteins are key regulators of cell migration and axon guidance. In the nematode C. elegans, the migration of the QR neuroblast descendants requires multiple Wnt ligands and receptors. We found that the migration of the QR descendants is divided into three sequential phases that are each mediated by a distinct Wnt signaling mechanism. Importantly, the transition from the first to the second phase, which is the main determinant of the final position of the QR descendants along the anteroposterior body axis, is mediated through a cell-autonomous process in which the time-dependent expression of a Wnt receptor turns on the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling response that is required to terminate long-range anterior migration. Our results show that, in addition to direct guidance of cell migration by Wnt morphogenic gradients, cell migration can also be controlled indirectly through cell-intrinsic modulation of Wnt signaling responses.

KW - Animals

KW - Caenorhabditis elegans

KW - Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins

KW - Cell Movement

KW - Cell Polarity

KW - Frizzled Receptors

KW - Gene Expression Regulation

KW - Glycoproteins

KW - Homeodomain Proteins

KW - Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

KW - Membrane Proteins

KW - Morphogenesis

KW - Neural Stem Cells

KW - Phosphoproteins

KW - Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors

KW - Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled

KW - Transcription Factors

KW - Wnt Proteins

KW - Wnt Signaling Pathway

KW - beta Catenin

U2 - 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.08.008

DO - 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.08.008

M3 - Article

C2 - 25373777

SN - 1534-5807

VL - 31

SP - 188

EP - 201

JO - Developmental Cell

JF - Developmental Cell

IS - 2

ER -