CGC Bibliography Paper 5607

The actin-binding protein UNC-115 is an effector of Ras signaling during axon pathfinding in C. elegans.

Struckhoff EC, Lundquist EA

Medline:

12506000

Citation:

Development 130: 693-704 2003

Type:

ARTICLE

Genes:

ced-10 mig-2 rac-2 rac-3 rho-1 unc-73 unc-115

Abstract:

Rac GTPases control cell shape by regulating downstream effectors that influence the actin cytoskeleton. UNC-115, a putative actin-binding protein similar to human abLIM/limatin, has previously been implicated in axon pathfinding. We have discovered the role of UNC-115 as a downstream cytoskeletal effector of Rac signaling in axon pathfinding. We show that unc-115 double mutants with ced-10 Rac, mig-2 Rac or unc-73 GEF but not with rac-2/3 Rac displayed synthetic axon pathfinding defects, and that loss of unc-115 function suppressed the formation of ectopic plasma membrane extensions induced by constitutively-active rac-2 in neurons. Furthermore, we show that UNC-115 can bind to actin filaments. Thus, UNC-115 is an actin-binding protein that acts downstream of Rac signaling in axon pathfinding.