Kinesin-1 acts with netrin and DCC to maintain sensory neuron position in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: The organization of neurons and the maintenance of that arrangement are critical to brain function. Failure of these processes in humans can lead to severe birth defects, mental retardation, and epilepsy. Several kinesins have been shown to play important roles in cell migration in vertebrate systems, but few upstream and downstream pathway members have been identified. Here, we utilize the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to elucidate the pathway by which the C. elegans Kinesin-1 Heavy Chain (KHC)/KIF5 ortholog UNC-116 functions to maintain neuronal cell body position in the PHB sensory neurons. We find that UNC-116/KHC acts in part with the cell and axon migration molecules UNC-6/Netrin and UNC-40/DCC in this process, but in parallel to SAX-3/Robo. We have also identified se

SUBMITTER: Barsi-Rhyne BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3632465 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature