A Caenorhabditis elegans model for epithelial-neuronal transdifferentiation.

ABSTRACT: Understanding transdifferentiation-the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another-is important from both basic science and clinical perspectives. In Caenorhabditis elegans, an epithelial cell named Y is initially part of the rectum but later appears to withdraw, migrate, and then become a motor neuron named PDA. Here, we show that this represents a bona fide transdifferentiation event: Y has epithelial hallmarks without detectable neural characteristics, and PDA has no residual epithelial characteristics. Using available mutants and laser microsurgery, we found that transdifferentiation does not depend on fusion with a neighboring cell or require migration of Y away from the rectum, that other rectal epithelial cells are not competent to transdifferentiate, and that transdiffe

SUBMITTER: Jarriault S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2268801 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature