Gumienny TL et al. (2013) WormBook "TGF- signaling in C. elegans."

Savage-Dunn C, Gumienny TL

[WormBook, 2013]

Transforming Growth Factor- (TGF-) superfamily ligands regulate many aspects of cell identity, function, and survival in multicellular animals. Genes encoding five TGF- family members are present in the genome of C. elegans. Two of the ligands, DBL-1 and DAF-7, signal through a canonical receptor-Smad signaling pathway; while a third ligand, UNC-129, interacts with a noncanonical signaling pathway. No function has yet been associated with the remaining two ligands. Here we summarize these signaling pathways and their biological functions.

Gumienny TL et al. (2001) Cell Death Differ "How the worm removes corpses: the nematode C. elegans as a model system to study engulfment."

Gumienny TL, Hengartner MO

[Cell Death Differ, 2001]

Apoptotic with the removal of the dying cells from the organism. This removal is brought forth through a rapid and specific engulfment of the doomed cell by one of its neighbors. Over half a dozen genes have been identified that function in this process in the worm. Many of these engulfment genes have functional homologs in Drosophila and higher vertebrates. Indeed, there is growing evidence supporting the hypothesis that the pathways that mediate the removal of apoptotic cells might be, at least in part, conserved through evolution.