The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is a conserved signal transduction cascade that is fundamental for the correct development of the nervous system. The major negative regulator of PI3K signaling is the lipid phosphatase DAF-18/PTEN, which can modulate PI3K pathway activity during neurodevelopment. Here, we identify a novel role for DAF-18 in promoting neurite outgrowth during development in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that DAF-18 modulates the PI3K signaling pathway to activate DAF-16/FOXO and promote developmental neurite outgrowth. This activity of DAF-16 in promoting outgrowth is isoform-specific, being effected by the daf-16b isoform but not the daf-16a or daf-16d/f isoform. We also demonstrate that the capacity of DAF-16/FOXO in regulating neuron morphology is conserved in mammalian neurons. These data provide a novel mechanism by which the conserved PI3K signaling pathway regulates neuronal cell morphology during development through FOXO.
Pubmed ID: 22069193 RIS Download
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Anatomical atlas about structural anatomy of Caenorhabditis elegans. Provides simple interface allowing user to easily navigate through every anatomical structure of worm. Contains set of images which can be sorted by different characteristics: sex, genotype, age, body portion or tissue type. Includes links to other major worm websites and databases. Application for viewing and downloading thousands of unpublished electron micrographs and associated data. These images have been generated by several labs in the C. elegans community, including the MRC, the Hall lab (Center for C. elegans Anatomy), and the Culotti and Riddle labs.
View all literature mentions3D image analysis software to visualize, analyze and validate 3D fluorescence images from a wide range of confocal microscopy, widefield and high content screening systems. It is fully integrated for a seamless user experience.
View all literature mentionsCaenorhabditis elegans with name C. elegans wild type (ancestral). from WB.
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name Crl:LE from RGD.
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