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Functional Characterization of UNC-53, a Scaffolding Protein During Axon Outgrowth and Cell Migration

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The UNC-53-mediated Interactome

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Neuroscience ((BRIEFSNEUROSCI))

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Abstract

During Caenorhabditis elegans development, cells and axons undergo migration along the dorsal ventral and anterior posterior axis to reach their final position to form the final structure and connectivity of the nervous system. While guidance molecules regulating the dorsal ventral guidance have been identified and conserved in both vertebrates and invertebrates, very few guidance molecules have been implicated in anterior posterior guidance and outgrowth. UNC-53, a cytoplasmic scaffolding protein, identified based on uncoordinated phenotype of loss-of-function mutants, regulates growth cone migration along the longitudinal axis of the worm. Interestingly, the vertebrate homologs, neuron navigators (NAVs), also play a role in neurite extension, regeneration, and cell migration. Moreover, expression pattern of UNC-53 and NAVs corroborate with their functional requirement during growth cone migrations. Genetic and biochemical analysis provided insight into the molecular mechanism of UNC-53 action during growth cone migration, suggesting that UNC-53 and NAV may be involved in reorganization of cytoskeleton polymers including actin and microtubules, by physically interacting with molecules like SEM-5, ABI-1, and acting with RhoA stimulator UNC-73E.

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  1. Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India

    Amita Pandey & Girdhar K. Pandey

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  1. Amita Pandey
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Pandey, A., Pandey, G.K. (2014). Functional Characterization of UNC-53, a Scaffolding Protein During Axon Outgrowth and Cell Migration. In: The UNC-53-mediated Interactome. SpringerBriefs in Neuroscience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07827-4_5

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