Prodomain-dependent tissue targeting of an ADAMTS protease controls cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Members of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) family of secreted proteins play important roles in animal development and pathogenesis. However, the lack of in vivo models has hampered elucidation of the mechanisms by which these enzymes are recruited to specific target tissues and the timing of their activation during development. Using transgenic worms and primary cell cultures, here we show that MIG-17, an ADAMTS family protein required for gonadal leader cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans, is recruited to the gonadal basement membrane in a prodomain-dependent manner. The activation of MIG-17 to control leader cell migration requires prodomain removal, which is suggested to occur autocatalytically in vitro. Although the prodomains of ADAMTS pr

SUBMITTER: Ihara S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1888677 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature