CACN-1/Cactin plays a role in Wnt signaling in C. elegans

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 7;9(7):e101945. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101945. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Wnt signaling is tightly regulated during animal development and controls cell proliferation and differentiation. In C. elegans, activation of Wnt signaling alters the activity of the TCF/LEF transcription factor, POP-1, through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin or Wnt/β-catenin asymmetry pathways. In this study, we have identified CACN-1 as a potential regulator of POP-1 in C. elegans larval development. CACN-1/Cactin is a well-conserved protein of unknown molecular function previously implicated in the regulation of several developmental signaling pathways. Here we have used activation of POPTOP, a POP-1-responsive reporter construct, as a proxy for Wnt signaling. POPTOP requires POP-1 and SYS-1/β-catenin for activation in L4 uterine cells. RNAi depletion experiments show that CACN-1 is needed to prevent excessive activation of POPTOP and for proper levels and/or localization of POP-1. Surprisingly, high POPTOP expression correlates with increased levels of POP-1 in uterine nuclei, suggesting POPTOP may not mirror endogenous gene expression in all respects. Genetic interaction studies suggest that CACN-1 may act partially through LIT-1/NLK to alter POP-1 localization and POPTOP activation. Additionally, CACN-1 is required for proper proliferation of larval seam cells. Depletion of CACN-1 results in a loss of POP-1 asymmetry and reduction of terminal seam cell number, suggesting an adoption of the anterior, differentiated fate by the posterior daughter cells. These findings suggest CACN-1/Cactin modulates Wnt signaling during larval development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • High Mobility Group Proteins / metabolism
  • Larva / cytology
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Interference
  • Testis / cytology
  • Testis / growth & development
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • CACN-1 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • High Mobility Group Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • pop-1 protein, C elegans
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • lit-1 protein, C elegans