[
Curr Opin Cell Biol,
1999]
In Caenorhabditis elegans, cell migration is guided by localized cues, including molecules such as EGL-17/FGF and UNC-6/netrin. These external cues are linked to an intracellular response to migrate, at least in part, by CED-5, a homolog of DOCK180/MBC, and MIG-2, a Rac-like GTPase. In addition, metalloproteases are required for a cell migration that controls organ shape.
[
Dev Dyn,
2005]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate many important developmental and homeostatic physiological events. The FGF superfamily contains several families. In this review, we present recent findings on the two FGFs of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans from both functional and phylogenic points of view. C. elegans has a single FGFR (EGL-15) with two functionally exclusive isoforms, and two FGFs (LET-756 and EGL-17), which play distinct roles: an essential function for the former, and guidance of the migrating sex myoblasts for the latter. Regulation of homeostasis by control of the fluid balance could be the basis for the essential function of LET-756. Phylogenetic and functional studies suggest that LET-756, like vertebrate FGF9, -16, and -20, belongs to the FGF9 family, whereas EGL-17, like vertebrate FGF8, -17, and -18, could be included in the FGF8 family.
[
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta,
2004]
Proteins belonging to the Bcl-2 family function as regulators of 'life-or-death' decisions in response to various intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. In mammals, cell death is controlled by pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, which function upstream of the caspase cascade. Structural and functional homologues of the Bcl-2 family proteins also exist in lower eukaryotes, such as nematodes and flies. In nematodes, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, CED-9, functions as a potent cell death inhibitor, and a BH3-only protein, EGL-1, acts as an inhibitor of CED-9 to facilitate the spatio-temporal regulation of programmed cell death. On the other hand, the Drosophila genome encodes two Bcl-2 family proteins, Drob-1/Debcl/dBorg-1/dBok and Buffy/dBorg-2, both of which structurally belong to the pro-apoptotic group, despite abundant similarities in the cell death mechanisms between flies and vertebrates. Drob-1 acts as a pro-apoptotic factor in vitro and in vivo, and Buffy/dBorg-2 exhibits a weak anti-apoptotic function. The ancestral role of the Bcl-2 family protein may be pro-apoptotic, and the evolution of the functions of this family of proteins may be closely linked with the contribution of mitochondria to the cell death pathway.
[
Cell Death Differ,
2002]
BH3-only proteins are structurally distant members of the Bcl-2 protein family that trigger apoptosis. Genetic experiments have shown that these proteins are essential initiators of programmed cell death in species as distantly related as mice and C. elegans. BH3-only proteins share with each other and with the remainder of the Bcl-2 family only a nine amino acid BH3 (Bcl-2 Homology) region, Mutational analyses have demonstrated that this domain is required for their ability to bind to Bcl-2-like pro-survival proteins and to initiate apoptosis. So far only one BH3-only protein, EGL-1, has been identified in C. elegans and it is required for all developmentally programmed death of somatic cells in this species, In contrast, mammals have at least 10 BH3-only proteins that differ in their expression pattern and mode of activation. Studies in gene targeted mice have indicated that different BH3-only proteins are required for the initiation of distinct apoptotic stimuli. The pro-apoptotic activities of BH3-only proteins are stringently controlled by a variety mechanisms. C. elegans
egl-1 as well as mammalian hrk/dp5, noxa, puma/
bbc3 and bim/bod are regulated by a diverse range of transcription factors. Certain BH3-only proteins, including Bad, Bik/Nbk, Bid, Bim/Bod and Bmf, are restrained by posttranslational modifications that cause their sequestration from pro-survival Bcl-2 family members. In this review we describe current knowledge of the functions and transcriptional as well as post-translational control mechanisms of BH3-only proteins.
[
WormBook,
2006]
Heterotrimeric G proteins, composed of alpha , beta , and gamma subunits, are able to transduce signals from membrane receptors to a wide variety of intracellular effectors. In this role, G proteins effectively function as dimers since the signal is communicated either by the G alpha subunit or the stable G betagamma complex. When inactive, G alpha -GDP associates with G betagamma and the cytoplasmic portion of the receptor. Ligand activation of the receptor stimulates an exchange of GTP for GDP resulting in the active signaling molecules G alpha -GTP and free G betagamma , either of which can interact with effectors. Hydrolysis of GTP restores G alpha -GDP, which then reassociates with G betagamma and receptor to terminate signaling. The rate of G protein activation can be enhanced by the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor, RIC-8 , while the rate of GTP hydrolysis can be enhanced by RGS proteins such as EGL-10 and EAT-16 . Evidence for a receptor-independent G-protein-signaling pathway has been demonstrated in C. elegans early embryogenesis. In this pathway, the G alpha subunits GOA-1 and GPA-16 are apparently activated by the non-transmembrane proteins GPR-1 , GPR-2 , and RIC-8 , and negatively regulated by RGS-7 . The C. elegans genome encodes 21 G alpha , 2 G beta and 2 G gamma subunits. The alpha subunits include one ortholog of each mammalian G alpha family: GSA-1 (Gs), GOA-1 (Gi/o), EGL-30 (Gq) and GPA-12 (G12). The remaining C. elegans alpha subunits ( GPA-1 , GPA-2 , GPA-3 , GPA-4 , GPA-5 , GPA-6 , GPA-7 , GPA-8 , GPA-9 , GPA-10 , GPA-11 , GPA-13 , GPA-14 , GPA-15 , GPA-16 , GPA-17 and ODR-3 ) are most similar to the Gi/o family, but do not share sufficient homology to allow classification. The conserved G alpha subunits, with the exception of GPA-12 , are expressed broadly while 14 of the new G alpha genes are expressed in subsets of chemosensory neurons. Consistent with their expression patterns, the conserved C. elegans alpha subunits, GSA-1 , GOA-1 and EGL-30 are involved in diverse and fundamental aspects of development and behavior. GOA-1 acts redundantly with GPA-16 in positioning of the mitotic spindle in early embryos. EGL-30 and GSA-1 are required for viability starting from the first larval stage. In addition to their roles in development and behaviors such as egg laying and locomotion, the EGL-30 , GSA-1 and GOA-1 pathways interact in a network to regulate acetylcholine release by the ventral cord motor neurons. EGL-30 provides the core signals for vesicle release, GOA-1 negatively regulates the EGL-30 pathway, and GSA-1 modulates this pathway, perhaps by providing positional cues. Constitutively activated GPA-12 affects pharyngeal pumping. The G alpha subunits unique to C. elegans are primarily involved in chemosensation. The G beta subunit, GPB-1 , as well as the G gamma subunit, GPC-2 , appear to function along with the alpha subunits in the classic G protein heterotrimer. The remaining G beta subunit, GPB-2 , is thought to regulate the function of certain RGS proteins, while the remaining G gamma subunit, GPC-1 , has a restricted role in chemosensation. The functional difference for most G protein pathways in C. elegans, therefore, resides in the alpha subunit. Many cells in C. elegans express multiple G alpha subunits, and multiple G protein pathways are known to function in specific cell types. For example, Go, Gq and Gs-mediated signaling occurs in the ventral cord motor neurons. Similarly, certain amphid neurons use multiple G protein pathways to both positively and negatively regulate chemosensation. C. elegans thus provides a powerful model for the study of interactions between and regulation of G protein signaling.
[
Cell Death Differ,
2008]
As a result of the genetic experiments performed in Caenorhabditis elegans, it has been tacitly assumed that the core proteins of the ''apoptotic machinery'' (CED-3, -4, -9 and EGL-1) would be solely involved in cell death regulation/execution and would not exert any functions outside of the cell death realm. However, multiple studies indicate that the mammalian orthologs of these C. elegans proteins (i.e. caspases, Apaf-1 and multidomain proteins of the Bcl-2 family) participate in cell death-unrelated processes. Similarly, loss-of-function mutations of
ced-4 compromise the mitotic arrest of DNA-damaged germline cells from adult nematodes, even in a context in which the apoptotic machinery is inoperative (for instance due to mutations of
egl-1 or
ced-3). Moreover, EGL-1 is required for the activation of autophagy in starved nematodes. Finally, the depletion of caspase-independent death effectors, such as apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G, provokes cell death-independent consequences, both in mammals and in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). These results corroborate the conjecture that any kind of protein that has previously been specifically implicated in apoptosis might have a phylogenetically conserved apoptosis-unrelated function, most likely as part of an adaptive response to cellular stress.Cell Death and Differentiation advance online publication, 29 February 2008; doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.
cdd200828.
[
Oncogene,
2008]
Since the discovery of mammalian BIK and BAD in 1995, BH3-only proteins have emerged as key activators of apoptotic cell death in animals as diverse as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and humans. BH3-only proteins have also emerged as integrators of cell-death signals that determine the life-versus-death decision and that transduce this decision to the central apoptotic machinery through their physical interaction with 'core' BCL-2 family members, such as BCL-2 or BCL-XL. Currently, eight BH3-only proteins have been identified and characterized in mammals, and there is evidence of functional overlap between them. In contrast, only two BH3-only proteins have so far been identified and characterized in C. elegans, EGL-1 and CED-13, and there seems to be only limited functional overlap between them. Combined with the powerful genetic tools available for the analysis of apoptosis in C. elegans, and the ability to study apoptosis at single-cell resolution in this organism, the absence of extensive functional redundancy makes C. elegans an ideal model for studies on BH3-only proteins. In this study, we will review our current understanding of the role and regulation of EGL-1. We will also briefly summarize studies on CED-13, which was identified more recently.
[
WormBook,
2005]
Programmed cell death is an integral component of C. elegans development. Genetic studies in C. elegans have led to the identification of more than two dozen genes that are important for the specification of which cells should live or die, the activation of the suicide program, and the dismantling and removal of dying cells. Molecular and biochemical studies have revealed the underlying conserved mechanisms that control these three phases of programmed cell death. In particular, an interplay of transcriptional regulatory cascades and networks involving CES-1 , CES-2 , HLH-1 / HLH-2 , TRA-1 , and other transcriptional regulators is crucial in activating the expression of the key death-inducing gene
egl-1 in cells destined to die. A protein interaction cascade involving EGL-1 , CED-9 , CED-4 and CED-3 results in the activation of the key cell death protease CED-3 . The activation of CED-3 initiates the cell disassembly process and nuclear DNA fragmentation, which is mediated by the release of apoptogenic mitochondrial factors ( CPS-6 and WAH-1 ) and which involves multiple endo- and exo-nucleases such as NUC-1 and seven CRN nucleases. The recognition and removal of the dying cell is mediated by two partially redundant signaling pathways involving CED-1 , CED-6 and CED-7 in one pathway and CED-2 , CED-5 , CED-10 , CED-12 and PSR-1 in the other pathway. Further studies of programmed cell death in C. elegans will continue to advance our understanding of how programmed cell death is regulated, activated, and executed in multicellular organisms.