Open AccessDynein and EFF-1 control dendrite morphology through regulating the localization pattern of SAX-7 in epidermal cells
Author(s) -
Tingshun Zhu,
Xing Liang,
Xiangming Wang,
Kang Shen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.201699
Subject(s) - biology , epidermis (zoology) , microbiology and biotechnology , dendrite (mathematics) , mutant , phenotype , morphogenesis , dynein , biophysics , anatomy , genetics , microtubule , geometry , mathematics , gene
Our previous work showed the cell adhesion molecule SAX-7 formed an elaborate pattern in epidermal cell, which instructs PVD dendrite branching. However, the molecular mechanism forming the SAX-7 pattern in the epidermis is not fully understood. Here, we report that the dynein light intermediate chain DLI-1, and the fusogen EFF-1 are required in epidermal cells to pattern SAX-7. While previous reports suggest these two molecules act cell-autonomously in PVD, our results showed the disorganized PVD dendritic arbors in these mutants are due to the abnormal SAX-7 localization patterns in epidermal cells. Three lines of evidences support this notion. First, epidermal SAX-7 pattern was severely affected in dli-1 and eff-1 mutants. Second, the abnormal SAX-7 pattern was predictive of the ectopic PVD dendrites. Third, expression of DLI-1 or EFF-1 in epidermis rescued both the SAX-7 pattern and the PVD disorganized dendrite phenotypes, while expression of these molecules in PVD did not. We also showed DLI-1 functions cell-autonomously in PVD to promote distal branch formation. These results demonstrate the unexpected roles of DLI-1 and EFF-1 in epidermis to control PVD dendrite morphogenesis.