CGC Bibliography Paper 3094

sma-1 encodes a B(H)-spectrin homolog required for Caenorhabditis elegans morphogenesis.

McKeown C, Praitis V, Austin J

Medline:

98237708

Citation:

Development 125: 2087-2098 1998

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

Abstract:

Morphogenesis transforms the C, elegans embryo from a ball of cells into a vermiform larva. During this transformation, the embryo increases fourfold in length; present data indicates this elongation results from contraction of the epidermal actin cytoskeleton, In sma-l mutants, the extent of embryonic elongation is decreased and the resulting sma-l larvae, although viable, are shorter than normal. we find that sma-lr mutants elongate for the same length of time as wild-type embryos, but at a decreased rate. The sma-l mutants we have isolated vary in phenotypic severity, with the most severe alleles showing the greatest decrease in elongation rate. The sma-1 gene encodes a homolog of beta(H)-spectrin, a novel beta-spectrin isoform first identified in Drosophila, sma-l RNA is expressed in epithelial tissues in the C. elegans embryo: in the embryonic epidermis at the start of morphogenesis and subsequently in the developing pharynx, intestine and excretory cell, In Drosophila, beta(H)-spectrin associates with the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells; beta-spectrin is found at the lateral membrane. We propose that SMA-I is a component of an apical membrane skeletonic n the C. elegans embryonic epidermis that determines the rate of elongation during