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Development 129, 387-397 (2002)
© 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited

Cell polarity and gastrulation in C. elegans

Jeremy Nance1,2 and James R. Priess1,2,*

1 Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
2 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA

*Author for correspondence (e-mail: jpriess{at}fred.fhcrc.org)

Accepted 17 October 2001

Gastrulation in C. elegans embryos involves formation of a blastocoel and the ingression of surface cells into the blastocoel. Mutations in the par-3 gene cause abnormal separations between embryonic cells, suggesting that the PAR-3 protein has a role in blastocoel formation. In normal development, PAR proteins localize to either the apical or basal surfaces of cells prior to blastocoel formation; we demonstrate that this localization is determined by cell contacts. Cells that ingress into the blastocoel undergo an apical flattening associated with an apical concentration of non-muscle myosin. We provide evidence that ingression times are determined by genes that control cell fate, though interactions with neighboring cells can prevent ingression.

Key words: Blastocoel, Apical-basal polarity, Gastrulation, Ingression, Morphogenesis, Cell fate, Cell shape, Non-muscle myosin, LIT-1, HMR-1, NMY-2, PAR-2, PAR-3, PAR-6, C. elegans




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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2002