Science 274:1389-1391
Control of C. elegans. Larval Development by Neuronal Expression of a TGF-b Homolog.
Peifeng Ren*, Chang-Su Lim*, Robert Johsen*, Patrice S. Albert*, Dave Pilgrim^, Donald L. Riddle*.
* Molecular Biology Program and Division of Biological Sciences, 311 Tucker Hall, Universtiy of Missouri, Colombia, MO 65211, USA
^ Department of Biological Sciences, G-507 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB., Canada T6G 2E9
The Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larva is specialized for dispersal without growth and is formed under conditions of overcrowding and limited food. The daf-7 gene, required for transducing environmental cues that support continuous development with plentiful food, encodes a transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) superfamily member. A daf-7 reporter construct is expressed in the ASI chemosensory neurons. Dauer-inducing pheromone inhibits daf-7 expression adn promotes dauer formation, wherea food reactivates daf-7 expression and promotes recovery from the dauer state. When the food/pheromone ratio is high, the level of daf-7 mRNA peaks during the L1 larval stage, when commitment to non-dauer developmene is made.