Embryos homozygous for mutations in the
unc-52,
pat-2,
pat-3, and
unc-112 genes of C. elegans exhibit a similar Pat phenotype. Myosin and actin are not organized into sarcomeres in the body wall muscle cells of these mutants, and dense body and M-line components fail to assemble. The
unc-52 (perlecan),
pat-2 (alpha-integrin), and
pat-3 (beta-integrin) genes encode ECM or transmembrane proteins found at the cell-matrix adhesion sites of both dense bodies and M-lines. This study describes the identification of the
unc-112 gene product, a novel, membrane-associated, intracellular protein that colocalizes with integrin at cell-matrix adhesion complexes. The 720-amino acid UNC-112 protein is homologous to Mig-2, a human protein of unknown function. These two proteins share a region of homology with talin and members of the FERM superfamily of proteins.We have determined that a functional UNC-112::GFP fusion protein colocalizes with PAT-3/beta-integrin in both adult and embryonic body wall muscle. We also have determined that UNC-112 is required to organize PAT-3/beta-integrin after it is integrated into the basal cell membrane, but is not required to organize UNC-52/perlecan in the basement membrane, nor for DEB-1/vinculin to localize with PAT-3/beta-integrin. Furthermore, UNC-112 requires the presence of UNC-52/perlecan and PAT-3/beta-integrin, but not DEB-1/vinculin to become localized to the muscle cell membrane.AD - Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.FAU - Rogalski, T MAU - Rogalski TMFAU - Mullen, G PAU - Mullen GPFAU - Gilbert, M MAU - Gilbert MMFAU - Williams, B DAU - Williams BDFAU - Moerman, D GAU - Moerman DGLA - engSI - GENBANK/AF217185PT - Journal ArticleCY - UNITED STATESTA - J Cell BiolJID - 0375356RN - 0 (Cell Adhesion Molecules)RN - 0 (Helminth Proteins)RN - 0 (Integrins)RN - 0 (Luminescent Proteins)RN - 0 (Proteoglycans)RN - 0 (Recombinant Fusion Proteins)RN - 0 (UNC112 protein)RN - 0 (
unc-52 protein)RN - 147336-22-9 (green fluorescent protein)SB - IMSB - S