The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>has been used extensively to identify the genetic requirements for proper nervous system development and function. Key to this process is the direction of vesicles to the growi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2006-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Biology |
| Online Access: | http://jbiol.com/content/5/4/9 |
| _version_ | 1818028748255002624 |
|---|---|
| author | Tsung Nancy Meili David Spector Mona Wightman Bruce Jin Yishi Tharin Suzanne Su Cheng-Wen Rhiner Christa Bourikas Dimitris Stoeckli Esther Garriga Gian Horvitz H Robert Hengartner Michael O |
| author_facet | Tsung Nancy Meili David Spector Mona Wightman Bruce Jin Yishi Tharin Suzanne Su Cheng-Wen Rhiner Christa Bourikas Dimitris Stoeckli Esther Garriga Gian Horvitz H Robert Hengartner Michael O |
| author_sort | Tsung Nancy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>has been used extensively to identify the genetic requirements for proper nervous system development and function. Key to this process is the direction of vesicles to the growing axons and dendrites, which is required for growth-cone extension and synapse formation in the developing neurons. The contribution and mechanism of membrane traffic in neuronal development are not fully understood, however.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that the <it>C. elegans </it>gene <it>unc-69 </it>is required for axon outgrowth, guidance, fasciculation and normal presynaptic organization. We identify UNC-69 as an evolutionarily conserved 108-amino-acid protein with a short coiled-coil domain. UNC-69 interacts physically with UNC-76, mutations in which produce similar defects to loss of <it>unc-69 </it>function. In addition, a weak reduction-of-function allele, <it>unc-69(ju69)</it>, preferentially causes mislocalization of the synaptic vesicle marker synaptobrevin. UNC-69 and UNC-76 colocalize as puncta in neuronal processes and cooperate to regulate axon extension and synapse formation. The chicken UNC-69 homolog is highly expressed in the developing central nervous system, and its inactivation by RNA interference leads to axon guidance defects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have identified a novel protein complex, composed of UNC-69 and UNC-76, which promotes axonal growth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>C. elegans</it>. As both proteins are conserved through evolution, we suggest that the mammalian homologs of UNC-69 and UNC-76 (SCOCO and FEZ, respectively) may function similarly.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:08:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9813b1cbde245529832bce58e02f4c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-5854 1475-4924 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:08:43Z |
| publishDate | 2006-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9813b1cbde245529832bce58e02f4c82022-12-22T02:01:09ZengBMCJournal of Biology1478-58541475-49242006-05-0154910.1186/jbiol39The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it>Tsung NancyMeili DavidSpector MonaWightman BruceJin YishiTharin SuzanneSu Cheng-WenRhiner ChristaBourikas DimitrisStoeckli EstherGarriga GianHorvitz H RobertHengartner Michael O<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>has been used extensively to identify the genetic requirements for proper nervous system development and function. Key to this process is the direction of vesicles to the growing axons and dendrites, which is required for growth-cone extension and synapse formation in the developing neurons. The contribution and mechanism of membrane traffic in neuronal development are not fully understood, however.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that the <it>C. elegans </it>gene <it>unc-69 </it>is required for axon outgrowth, guidance, fasciculation and normal presynaptic organization. We identify UNC-69 as an evolutionarily conserved 108-amino-acid protein with a short coiled-coil domain. UNC-69 interacts physically with UNC-76, mutations in which produce similar defects to loss of <it>unc-69 </it>function. In addition, a weak reduction-of-function allele, <it>unc-69(ju69)</it>, preferentially causes mislocalization of the synaptic vesicle marker synaptobrevin. UNC-69 and UNC-76 colocalize as puncta in neuronal processes and cooperate to regulate axon extension and synapse formation. The chicken UNC-69 homolog is highly expressed in the developing central nervous system, and its inactivation by RNA interference leads to axon guidance defects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have identified a novel protein complex, composed of UNC-69 and UNC-76, which promotes axonal growth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>C. elegans</it>. As both proteins are conserved through evolution, we suggest that the mammalian homologs of UNC-69 and UNC-76 (SCOCO and FEZ, respectively) may function similarly.</p>http://jbiol.com/content/5/4/9 |
| spellingShingle | Tsung Nancy Meili David Spector Mona Wightman Bruce Jin Yishi Tharin Suzanne Su Cheng-Wen Rhiner Christa Bourikas Dimitris Stoeckli Esther Garriga Gian Horvitz H Robert Hengartner Michael O The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> Journal of Biology |
| title | The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> |
| title_full | The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> |
| title_fullStr | The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> |
| title_short | The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it> |
| title_sort | short coiled coil domain containing protein unc 69 cooperates with unc 76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in it caenorhabditis elegans it |
| url | http://jbiol.com/content/5/4/9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tsungnancy theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT meilidavid theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT spectormona theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT wightmanbruce theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT jinyishi theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT tharinsuzanne theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT suchengwen theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT rhinerchrista theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT bourikasdimitris theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT stoeckliesther theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT garrigagian theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT horvitzhrobert theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT hengartnermichaelo theshortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT tsungnancy shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT meilidavid shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT spectormona shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT wightmanbruce shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT jinyishi shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT tharinsuzanne shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT suchengwen shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT rhinerchrista shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT bourikasdimitris shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT stoeckliesther shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT garrigagian shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT horvitzhrobert shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit AT hengartnermichaelo shortcoiledcoildomaincontainingproteinunc69cooperateswithunc76toregulateaxonaloutgrowthandnormalpresynapticorganizationinitcaenorhabditiselegansit |