Int. J. Dev. Biol. 58: 325 - 333 (2014)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.130327cm

Vol 58, Issue 5

α integrin cytoplasmic tails have tissue-specific roles during C. elegans development

Original Article | Published: 1 October 2014

Christopher M. Meighan^1,* and Jean E. Schwarzbauer²

¹Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA, USA and ²Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA

Abstract

Integrin signaling impacts many developmental processes. The complexity of these signals increases when multiple, unique integrin heterodimers are expressed during a single developmental event. Since integrin heterodimers have different signaling capabilities, the signals originating at each integrin type must be separated in the cell. C. elegans have two integrin heterodimers, α INA-1/β PAT-3 and α PAT-2/β PAT-3, which are expressed individually or simultaneously, based on tissue type. We used chimeric α integrins to assess the role of α integrin cytoplasmic tails during development. Chimeric integrin ina-1 with the pat-2 cytoplasmic tail rescued lethality and maintained neuron fasciculation in an ina-1 mutant. Interestingly, the pat-2 tail was unable to completely restore distal tip cell migration and vulva morphogenesis. Chimeric integrin pat-2 with the ina-1 cytoplasmic tail had a limited ability to rescue a lethal mutation in pat-2, with survivors showing aberrant muscle organization, yet normal distal tip cell migration. In a wild type background, α integrin pat-2 with the ina-1 cytoplasmic tail had a dominant negative effect which induced muscle disorganization, cell migration defects and lethality. These results show the α integrin cytoplasmic tails impact unique cellular behaviors that vary by tissue type during development.

Keywords

integrin, morphogenesis, distal tip cell, muscle