A conserved Arf-GEF modulates axonal integrity through RAB-35 by altering neuron-epidermal attachment - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Axonal Integrity
- #AGEF-1
- #RAB-35
- The study investigates how neuron-epidermal attachments maintain axonal integrity under mechanical strain in C. elegans.
- UNC-70/β-spectrin and RAB-35 work synergistically in the skin to stabilize these attachments and prevent axon damage.
- A genetic screen identified AGEF-1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), as key for axonal maintenance in mechanosensitive neurons.
- AGEF-1 acts selectively within the skin, binds to epidermal RAB-35, and regulates its activity to modulate attachment stability.
- The human ortholog BIG2 can functionally replace AGEF-1, indicating high conservation of this molecular machinery.