Morphogenesis of the Caenorhabditis elegans male tail tip

Can Q. Nguyen, David H. Hall, Ying Yang, David H.A. Fitch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using electron microscopy and immunofluorescent labeling of adherens junctions, we have reconstructed the changes in cell architecture and intercellular associations that occur during morphogenesis of the nematode male tail tip. During late postembryonic development, the Caenorhabditis elegans male tail is reshaped to form a copulatory structure. The most posterior hypodermal cells in the tail define a specialized, sexually dimorphic compartment in which cells fuse and retract in the male, changing their shape from a tapered cone to a blunt dome. Developmental profiles using electron microscopy and immunofluorescent staining suggest that cell fusions are initiated at or adjacent to adherens junctions. Anterior portions of the tail tip cells show the first evidence of retractions and fusions, consistent with our hypothesis that an anterior event triggers these morphogenetic events. Available mutations that interfere with morphogenesis implicate particular regulatory pathways and suggest loci at which evolutionary changes could have produced morphological diversity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)86-106
Number of pages21
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume207
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 1999

Keywords

  • Adherens junctions
  • C. elegans
  • Cell fusion
  • Evolution
  • Gap junctions
  • Male tail
  • Morphogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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