the rho-1 rhogtpase modulates fertility and multiple behaviors in adult c. elegans的rho-1 rhogtpase调节生育和多个行为成人秀丽隐杆线虫.pdfVIP

The RHO-1 RhoGTPase Modulates Fertility and Multiple Behaviors in Adult C. elegans ¤ Rachel McMullan , Stephen J. Nurrish* MRC Cell Biology Unit, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College, London, United Kingdom Abstract 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. Citation: McMullan R, Nurrish SJ (2011) The RHO-1 RhoGTPase Modulates Fertility and Multiple Behaviors in Adult C. elegans. PLoS ONE 6(2): e17265. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0017265 Editor: Anne Hart, Brown University, United States of America Received September 30, 2010; Accepted January 28, 2011; Published February 28, 2011 Copyright: 2011 McMullan, Nurrish. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permit