The anchor cell (AC) in C. elegans secretes an EGF homolog that induces adjacent vulval precursor cells (VPCs) to differentiate. The EGF receptor in the nearest VPC sequesters the limiting EGF amounts released by the AC to prevent EGF from spreading to distal VPCs. Here, we show that not only EGFR localization in the VPCs but also EGF polarity in the AC is necessary for robust fate specification. The AC secretes EGF in a directional manner towards the nearest VPC. Loss of AC polarity causes signal spreading and, when combined with MAPK pathway hyperactivation, the ectopic induction of distal VPCs. In a screen for genes preventing distal VPC induction, we identified sra-9 and nlp-26 as genes specifically required for polarized EGF secretion. sra-9(lf) and nlp-26(lf) mutants exhibit errors in vulval fate specification, reduced precision in VPC to AC alignment and increased variability in MAPK activation. sra-9 encodes a seven-pass trans-membrane receptor acting in the AC and nlp-26 a neuropeptide-like protein expressed in the VPCs. SRA-9 and NLP-26 may transduce a feedback signal to channel EGF secretion towards the nearest VPC.
Polarized epidermal growth factor secretion ensures robust vulval cell fate specification in Caenorhabditis elegans
These authors contributed equally to this work.
present address: Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
present address: Kantonsschule Olten, Fachschaften Biologie und Chemie, Hardfeldstrasse 53, 4600 Olten, Switzerland
present address: Roche Diagnostics, Industriestrasse 7 CH-6343, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
Currently Viewing Accepted Manuscript - Newer Version Available
Louisa Mereu, Matthias K. Morf, Silvan Spiri, Peter Gutierrez, Juan M. Escobar-Restrepo, Michael Daube, Michael Walser, Alex Hajnal; Polarized epidermal growth factor secretion ensures robust vulval cell fate specification in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2020; dev.175760. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.175760
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