A switch in collagen expression regulates cessation of distal tip cell migration in <i>C. elegans</i>.

ABSTRACT: Development of the C. elegans gonad requires precise regulation of cell migration. The distal tip cell (DTC) guides the elongation of the gonad into its final U-shaped structure before halting in adulthood. How cessation of elongation is regulated remains unknown. Here, we analyze an RNA-seq data set isolated from stage-specific DTCs to uncover the temporal gene expression dynamics underlying this process. Collagens emerged as the most enriched gene family during the transition from migratory larval stages to adulthood. We identify distinct temporal waves of collagen expression, culminating in a core adult-specific module that coincides with migration cessation. Functional analysis by RNAi depletion revealed that many collagens upregulated in adulthood are required for timely migrat

SUBMITTER: Stolzenbach V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12621820 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature