A β-Catenin-Dependent Wnt Pathway Mediates Anteroposterior Axon Guidance in C. elegans Motor Neurons
2009
Wnt Pathway in Axon Guidance
publication
10 minutes
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Maro Géraldine S., Klassen Matthew P., Shen Kang
Primary Institution: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology and Pathology, Stanford University
Hypothesis
The study investigates how the Wnt signaling pathway mediates axon guidance in C. elegans motor neurons.
Conclusion
The research provides evidence that Wnt-mediated axon guidance can be transduced through a β-catenin-dependent pathway.
Supporting Evidence
- Wnt proteins are necessary for D-type axons to terminate at their appropriate position.
- Mutants for Wnt ligands show axon overextension defects.
- Ectopic expression of Wnt can induce axon guidance defects.
- Mutants in the canonical Wnt pathway display similar axon guidance defects.
- β-catenin is required cell-autonomously for axon guidance.
- Loss of the F-box/ubiquitin ligase LIN-23 leads to axon overextension.
- Different Wnt pathways may regulate axon guidance in distinct neurons.
Takeaway
Wnt proteins help guide nerve cells in the right direction during development, and they do this by using a specific signaling pathway.
Methodology
The study used genetic mutants and transgenic lines in C. elegans to analyze the role of Wnt proteins in axon guidance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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