
pmid: 22975323
Morphogenesis is a developmental phase during which cell fates are executed. Mechanical forces shaping individual cells play a key role during tissue morphogenesis. By investigating morphogenesis of the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite vulva, we show that the force-generating actomyosin network is differentially regulated by NOTCH and EGFR/RAS/MAPK signaling to shape the vulval tube. NOTCH signaling activates expression of the RHO kinase LET-502 in the secondary cell lineage through the ETS-family transcription factor LIN-1. LET-502 induces actomyosin-mediated contraction of the apical lumen in the secondary toroids, thereby generating a dorsal pushing force. In contrast, MAPK signaling in the primary lineage downregulates LET-502 RHO kinase expression to prevent toroid contraction and allow the gonadal anchor cell to expand the dorsal lumen of the primary toroids. The antagonistic action of the MAPK and NOTCH pathways thus controls vulval tube morphogenesis linking cell fate specification to morphogenesis.
rho-Associated Kinases, Receptors, Notch, Actomyosin, 10124 Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Vulva, 1309 Developmental Biology, 1307 Cell Biology, 1300 General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, 1312 Molecular Biology, Morphogenesis, Animals, 570 Life sciences; biology, Female, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Developmental Biology, Muscle Contraction, Signal Transduction
rho-Associated Kinases, Receptors, Notch, Actomyosin, 10124 Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Vulva, 1309 Developmental Biology, 1307 Cell Biology, 1300 General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, 1312 Molecular Biology, Morphogenesis, Animals, 570 Life sciences; biology, Female, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Developmental Biology, Muscle Contraction, Signal Transduction
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