Migration of neuronal cells along the anterior-posterior body axis of C. elegans: Wnts are in control

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2007 Aug;17(4):320-5. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2007.05.007. Epub 2007 Jul 20.

Abstract

Migrating neuronal cells are directed to their final positions by an array of guidance cues. It has been shown that guidance molecules such as UNC-6/Netrin and SLT-1/Slit play a major role in controlling cell and axon migrations along the dorsal-ventral body axis. Much less is known, however, about the mechanisms that mediate migration along the anterior-posterior (AP) body axis. Recent research in Caenorhabditis elegans has uncovered an important role of the Wnt family of signalling molecules in controlling AP-directed neuronal cell migration and polarity. A common theme that emerges from these studies is that multiple Wnt proteins function in parallel as instructive cues or permissive signals to control neuronal patterning along this major body axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / genetics
  • Body Patterning / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Models, Biological
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / physiology

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Wnt Proteins