biostudies-literatureUnknown4Kelley MAmerican Cancer SocietyNIBIB NIH HHSNCRR NIH HHSNational Institutes of Health (NIH)National Marfan Foundation (NMF)NINDS NIH HHSHuman Frontier Science Program (HFSP)Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y TecnológicoNIGMS NIH HHSNIH HHSDuring development, biomechanical forces contour the body and provide shape to internal organs. Using genetic and molecular approaches in combination with a FRET-based tension sensor, we characterized a pulling force exerted by the elongating pharynx (foregut) on the anterior epidermis during C. elegans embryogenesis. Resistance of the epidermis to this force and to actomyosin-based circumferential constricting forces is mediated by FBN-1, a ZP domain protein related to vertebrate fibrillins. fbn-1 was required specifically within the epidermis and FBN-1 was expressed in epidermal cells and secreted to the apical surface as a putative component of the embryonic sheath. Tiling array studies indicated that fbn-1 mRNA processing requires the conserved alternative splicing factor MEC-8/RBPMS. eLifehttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4395870biostudies-literatureFBN-1, a fibrillin-related protein, is required for resistance of the epidermis to mechanical deformation during C. elegans embryogenesis.PMC4395870NS0731211131038R01 GM108754S10RR02557401P40 OD010440Long-Term FellowshipGM108754NS047715EB0067451K99NS089942-01R01 NS064273R01 GM066868GM30997RSG-12-149-01-DCCR37 GM030997K99 NS089942P20 GM103432R01 EB006745R01 GM030997R01 NS073121GM066868NS064273R01 NS047715Fay DSKelley MHeiman MGKrieg MCalixto AChalfie MYochem JKuzmanov AFrand AMeli VGoodman MBShaham SfalseFBN-1, a fibrillin-related protein, is required for resistance of the epidermis to mechanical deformation during C. elegans embryogenesis.During development, biomechanical forces contour the body and provide shape to internal organs. Using genetic and molecular approaches in combination with a FRET-based tension sensor, we characterized a pulling force exerted by the elongating pharynx (foregut) on the anterior epidermis during C. elegans embryogenesis. Resistance of the epidermis to this force and to actomyosin-based circumferential constricting forces is mediated by FBN-1, a ZP domain protein related to vertebrate fibrillins. fbn-1 was required specifically within the epidermis and FBN-1 was expressed in epidermal cells and secreted to the apical surface as a putative component of the embryonic sheath. Tiling array studies indicated that fbn-1 mRNA processing requires the conserved alternative splicing factor MEC-8/RBPMS. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Mar2026-05-07T22:02:01.356Z2025-06-01T00:10:00.833ZS-EPMC43958702579873210.7554/eLife.06565