LRP-2 controls the localization of C. elegans SYS-1/beta-catenin

Abstract

The polarity of the C. elegans P7.p cell divisions is controlled by the Wnt/β-catenin asymmetry pathway (Green et al., 2008; Minor et al., 2013). This pathway includes the β-catenin-like proteins SYS-1 and WRM-1, POP-1/TCF, and the Nemo-like-kinase, LIT-1 (reviewed by Mizumoto and Sawa, 2007). The Wnt/β-catenin asymmetry pathway ensures different ratios of SYS-1 to POP-1, controlling the differential transcription of Wnt target genes between daughters of an asymmetric cell division. Because our genetic data indicate an antagonism between LRP-2 and LIN-17 similar to that between CAM-1 and VANG-1 and LIN-17 (Minor and Sternberg, 2019), we wanted to determine if LRP-2 can control the asymmetric localization of SYS-1 between the daughter cells of P7.p during anaphase of the first cell division. The initial establishment of vulval polarity can be observed through the localization of VENUS::SYS-1 (VNS::SYS-1), localized in a high (P7.pa)/low (P7.pp) pattern in the wild-type worm, reciprocal to the localization of POP-1/TCF (Phillips et al., 2007; Green et al., 2008). It was previously reported (Green et al. 2008) that VNS::SYS-1 asymmetry in P7.p daughter cells is often lost in lin-17(n671) and lin-18(e620) mutants. These mutants display two aberrant patterns of VNS::SYS-1 localization as well as the wild-type pattern, though less frequently. The two deviant localization patterns include one in which both P7.pa and P7.pp express equal amounts of VNS::SYS-1 and a reversed VNS::SYS-1 pattern in which P7.pp is enriched with VNS::SYS-1. By observing VNS::SYS-1 localization in a lin-17(n671); lrp-2(gk272) background we see that the aberrant localization of SYS-1 is suppressed to a similar degree to that of lin-17(n671); cam-1(gm122) and lin-17(n671); vang-1(ok1142). This observation confirms LRP-2 controls vulval cell polarity by antagonizing LIN-17 in a similar fashion to CAM-1 and VANG-1, and that the effect of LRP-2 is at the level of P7.p rather than its progeny.

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