Filamin and Phospholipase C-ε Are Required for Calcium Signaling in the Caenorhabditis elegans Spermatheca

摘要: The Caenorhabditis elegans spermatheca is a myoepithelial tube that stores sperm and undergoes cycles of stretching constriction as oocytes enter, are fertilized, exit into the uterus. FLN-1/filamin, stretch-sensitive structural signaling scaffold, PLC-1/phospholipase C-e, an enzyme generates second messenger IP3, required for embryos to normally after fertilization. Using GCaMP, genetically encoded calcium indicator, we show entry oocyte initiates distinctive series IP3-dependent oscillations propagate across tissue via gap junctions lead spermatheca. PLC-1 release mechanism triggered by entry, FLN-1 timely initiation oscillations. INX-12, junction subunit, coordinates propagation transients Gain-of-function mutations in ITR-1/IP3R, channel, loss-of-function LFE-2, negative regulator IP3 signaling, increase suppress defect filamin-deficient animals. We further demonstrate regulatory cassette consisting MEL-11/myosin phosphatase NMY-1/non-muscle myosin coordinated contraction In summary, this study answers long-standing questions concerning dynamics C. suggests needed response trigger spermathecal tissue.