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EMBO reports 2, 6, 530–535 (2001)
doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kve110
Published online: June 2001
A putative GDP–GTP exchange factor is required for development of the excretory cell in Caenorhabditis elegans
Norio Suzuki1, Matthew Buechner2, Kiyoji Nishiwaki3, David H. Hall4, Hiroyuki Nakanishi5, Yoshimi Takai5, Naoki Hisamoto1 & Kunihiro Matsumoto1
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1 Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate school of Science, Nagoya University and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
2 Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
3 PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation and Fundamental Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation, Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba 305-8501, Japan
4 Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
5 Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Osaka University Medical School, Suita 565-0871, Japan
To whom correspondence should be addressed
Kunihiro Matsumoto Tel: +81 52 789 3000; Fax: +81 52 789 2589 or 3001; g44177a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Received 12 January 2001; Accepted 20 April 2001.
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Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans excretory cell extends tubular processes, called canals, along the basolateral surface of the epidermis. Mutations in the exc-5 gene cause tubulocystic defects in this canal. Ultrastructural analysis suggests that exc-5 is required for the proper placement of cytoskeletal elements at the apical epithelial surface. exc-5 encodes a protein homologous to guanine nucleotide exchange factors and contains motif architecture similar to that of FGD1, which is responsible for faciogenital dysplasia. exc-5 interacts genetically with mig-2, which encodes Rho GTPase. These results suggest that EXC-5 controls the structural organization of the excretory canal by regulating Rho family GTPase activities.
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