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FLR‐2, the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit, is involved in the neural control of intestinal functions in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Oishi Akane,
GengyoAndo Keiko,
Mitani Shohei,
MohriShiomi Akiko,
Kimura Koutarou D,
Ishihara Takeshi,
Katsura Isao
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2009.01341.x
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , glycoprotein , protein subunit , alpha (finance) , g alpha subunit , microbiology and biotechnology , hormone , genetics , endocrinology , gene , medicine , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
The intestine plays an essential role in organism‐wide regulatory networks in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In Caenorhabditis elegans, class 1 flr genes ( flr‐1, flr‐3 and flr‐4 ) act in the intestine and control growth rates and defecation cycle periods, while class 2 flr genes ( flr‐2, flr‐5, flr‐6 and flr‐7 ) are characterized by mutations that suppress the slow growth of class 1 flr mutants. This study revealed that flr‐2 gene controls antibacterial defense and intestinal color, confirming that flr‐2 regulates intestinal functions. flr‐2 encoded the only glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit in C. elegans and was expressed in certain neurons. Furthermore, FLR‐2 bound to another secretory protein GHI‐1, which belongs to a family of lipid‐ and lipopolysaccharide‐binding proteins. A ghi‐1 deletion mutation partially suppressed the short defecation cycle periods of class 1 flr mutants, and this effect was enhanced by flr‐2 mutations. Thus, FLR‐2 acts as a signaling molecule for the neural control of intestinal functions, which is achieved in a functional network involving class 1 and class 2 flr genes as well as ghi‐1 . These results are informative to studies of glycoprotein hormone signaling in higher animals.