The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.

The Rho family of small GTPases are essential during early embryonic development making it difficult to study their functions in adult animals. Using inducible transgenes expressing either a constitutively active version of the single C. elegans Rho ortholog, RHO-1, or an inhibitor of endogenous Rho...

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Main Authors: Rachel McMullan, Stephen J Nurrish
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-02-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0017265&type=printable
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author Rachel McMullan
Stephen J Nurrish
author_facet Rachel McMullan
Stephen J Nurrish
author_sort Rachel McMullan
collection DOAJ
description The Rho family of small GTPases are essential during early embryonic development making it difficult to study their functions in adult animals. Using inducible transgenes expressing either a constitutively active version of the single C. elegans Rho ortholog, RHO-1, or an inhibitor of endogenous Rho (C3 transferase), we demonstrate multiple defects caused by altering Rho signaling in adult C. elegans. Changes in RHO-1 signaling in cholinergic neurons affected locomotion, pharyngeal pumping and fecundity. Changes in RHO-1 signaling outside the cholinergic neurons resulted in defective defecation, ovulation, and changes in C. elegans body morphology. Finally both increased and decreased RHO-1 signaling in adults resulted in death within hours. The multiple post-developmental roles for Rho in C. elegans demonstrate that RhoA signaling pathways continue to be used post-developmentally and the resulting phenotypes provide an opportunity to further study post-developmental Rho signaling pathways using genetic screens.
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spelling doaj-art-c2d34360f5e347ec823897e444c9ddc12025-08-20T02:08:35ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-02-0162e1726510.1371/journal.pone.0017265The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.Rachel McMullanStephen J NurrishThe Rho family of small GTPases are essential during early embryonic development making it difficult to study their functions in adult animals. Using inducible transgenes expressing either a constitutively active version of the single C. elegans Rho ortholog, RHO-1, or an inhibitor of endogenous Rho (C3 transferase), we demonstrate multiple defects caused by altering Rho signaling in adult C. elegans. Changes in RHO-1 signaling in cholinergic neurons affected locomotion, pharyngeal pumping and fecundity. Changes in RHO-1 signaling outside the cholinergic neurons resulted in defective defecation, ovulation, and changes in C. elegans body morphology. Finally both increased and decreased RHO-1 signaling in adults resulted in death within hours. The multiple post-developmental roles for Rho in C. elegans demonstrate that RhoA signaling pathways continue to be used post-developmentally and the resulting phenotypes provide an opportunity to further study post-developmental Rho signaling pathways using genetic screens.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0017265&type=printable
spellingShingle Rachel McMullan
Stephen J Nurrish
The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
PLoS ONE
title The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
title_full The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
title_fullStr The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
title_full_unstemmed The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
title_short The RHO-1 RhoGTPase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult C. elegans.
title_sort rho 1 rhogtpase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult c elegans
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0017265&type=printable
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