biostudies-literatureZhu TNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Basic Research Program of ChinaHoward Hughes Medical InstituteNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaYouth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences4063-4071https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5769588biostudies-literatureUnknown130(23)Our previous work showed that the cell adhesion molecule SAX-7 forms an elaborate pattern in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> epidermal cells, which instructs PVD dendrite branching. However, the molecular mechanism forming the SAX-7 pattern in the epidermis is not fully understood. Here, we report that the dynein light intermediate chain DLI-1 and the fusogen EFF-1 are required in epidermal cells to pattern SAX-7. While previous reports suggest that these two molecules act cell-autonomously in the PVD, our results show that the disorganized PVD dendritic arbors in these mutants are due to the abnormal SAX-7 localization patterns in epidermal cells. Three lines of evidence support this notion. First, the epidermal SAX-7 pattern was severely affected in <i>dli-1</i> and <i>eff-1</i> mutants. SJournal of cell scienceDynein and EFF-1 control dendrite morphology by regulating the localization pattern of SAX-7 in epidermal cells.PMC57695882013CB9101031R01NS08220831571061, 31771138, 31428009Shen KWang XMLiang XZhu TfalseDynein and EFF-1 control dendrite morphology by regulating the localization pattern of SAX-7 in epidermal cells.Our previous work showed that the cell adhesion molecule SAX-7 forms an elaborate pattern in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> epidermal cells, which instructs PVD dendrite branching. However, the molecular mechanism forming the SAX-7 pattern in the epidermis is not fully understood. Here, we report that the dynein light intermediate chain DLI-1 and the fusogen EFF-1 are required in epidermal cells to pattern SAX-7. While previous reports suggest that these two molecules act cell-autonomously in the PVD, our results show that the disorganized PVD dendritic arbors in these mutants are due to the abnormal SAX-7 localization patterns in epidermal cells. Three lines of evidence support this notion. First, the epidermal SAX-7 pattern was severely affected in <i>dli-1</i> and <i>eff-1</i> mutants. S2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Dec2025-04-19T02:02:17.301Z2019-03-27T00:09:24ZS-EPMC57695882907457810.1242/jcs.201699