Journal of cell science, 2008-08, Vol.121 (16), p.2662-2670
2008
Details
- Autor(en) / Beteiligte
- Titel
- Essential role of ADF/cofilin for assembly of contractile actin networks in the C. elegans somatic gonad
- Ist Teil von
- Journal of cell science, 2008-08, Vol.121 (16), p.2662-2670
- Ort / Verlag
- England: The Company of Biologists Limited
- Erscheinungsjahr
- 2008
- Link zum Volltext
- Quelle
- Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals
- Beschreibungen/Notizen
- The somatic gonad of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a myoepithelial sheath, which surrounds oocytes and provides contractile forces during ovulation. Contractile apparatuses of the myoepithelial-sheath cells are non-striated and similar to those of smooth muscle. We report the identification of a specific isoform of actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin as an essential factor for assembly of contractile actin networks in the gonadal myoepithelial sheath. Two ADF/cofilin isoforms, UNC-60A and UNC-60B, are expressed from the unc-60 gene by alternative splicing. RNA interference of UNC-60A caused disorganization of the actin networks in the myoepithelial sheath. UNC-60B, which is known to function in the body-wall muscle, was not necessary or sufficient for actin organization in the myoepithelial sheath. However, mutant forms of UNC-60B with reduced actin-filament-severing activity rescued the UNC-60A-depletion phenotype. UNC-60A has a much weaker filament-severing activity than UNC-60B, suggesting that an ADF/cofilin with weak severing activity is optimal for assembly of actin networks in the myoepithelial sheath. By contrast, strong actin-filament-severing activity of UNC-60B was required for assembly of striated myofibrils in the body-wall muscle. Our results suggest that an optimal level of actin-filament-severing activity of ADF/cofilin is required for assembly of actin networks in the somatic gonad.
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Identifikatoren
- ISSN: 0021-9533eISSN: 1477-9137DOI: 10.1242/jcs.034215Titel-ID: cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_2572110
- Format
- –
- Schlagworte
- Actin Cytoskeleton - metabolism, Actin Depolymerizing Factors - antagonists & inhibitors, Actin Depolymerizing Factors - genetics, Actin Depolymerizing Factors - metabolism, Actin Depolymerizing Factors - physiology, Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - physiology, Contractile Proteins - metabolism, Epithelium - metabolism, Gonads - metabolism, Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics, Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism, Microfilament Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors, Microfilament Proteins - genetics, Microfilament Proteins - metabolism, Microfilament Proteins - physiology, Muscle, Striated - drug effects, Muscle, Striated - metabolism, Muscular Diseases - genetics, Muscular Diseases - metabolism, Protein Isoforms - antagonists & inhibitors, Protein Isoforms - genetics, Protein Isoforms - metabolism, Protein Isoforms - physiology, Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics, Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism, RNA, Small Interfering - genetics, RNA, Small Interfering - pharmacology, Transfection