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Patched controls cell cycle and tissue architecture in C. elegans gonad.

Farley, Johanna Kate LU orcid ; Schwalbe, Madeleine LU ; Forsberg, Fredrik LU orcid ; Amran, Aqilah LU and Gopal, Sandeep LU orcid (2026) In American journal of physiology. Cell physiology
Abstract

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is essential for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis in organisms. However,
Caenorhabditis elegans lacks canonical Hh signaling due to the absence of key components, such as smoothened (SMO) and obvious Hh ligands. Despite this,
C. elegans retains Patched homologs,
ptc-1 and
ptc-3, which have specialized independent functions. Although
ptc-1 is predominantly expressed in the germ line and
ptc-3 in somatic tissues, we demonstrate that both genes are required to maintain germ cell populations and proper actin cytoskeletal architecture in the progenitor zone of the germ line. Disruption of actin-encoding genes impairs germ cell S-phase and reduces the number of cells in... (More)

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is essential for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis in organisms. However,
Caenorhabditis elegans lacks canonical Hh signaling due to the absence of key components, such as smoothened (SMO) and obvious Hh ligands. Despite this,
C. elegans retains Patched homologs,
ptc-1 and
ptc-3, which have specialized independent functions. Although
ptc-1 is predominantly expressed in the germ line and
ptc-3 in somatic tissues, we demonstrate that both genes are required to maintain germ cell populations and proper actin cytoskeletal architecture in the progenitor zone of the germ line. Disruption of actin-encoding genes impairs germ cell S-phase and reduces the number of cells in the progenitor zone, indicating that cytoskeletal integrity is critical for maintaining the germ line. Furthermore, defects observed upon loss of Patched function are linked to disruptions in cholesterol metabolism. We show that the phenotypes observed in the gonads due to dietary cholesterol changes can be modulated through Patched receptors. Together, our findings reveal a role for Patched receptors in regulating gonad architecture and germ cell development through cholesterol-sensitive functions, offering insights into how metabolic cues influence the organization of complex tissues.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
American journal of physiology. Cell physiology
publisher
American Physiological Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:41914962
ISSN
1522-1563
DOI
10.1152/ajpcell.00486.2025
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f358bbc5-a30c-437f-84d2-458162ee7a3a
date added to LUP
2026-04-13 10:40:45
date last changed
2026-04-13 14:53:21
@article{f358bbc5-a30c-437f-84d2-458162ee7a3a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is essential for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis in organisms. However,<br>
 Caenorhabditis elegans lacks canonical Hh signaling due to the absence of key components, such as smoothened (SMO) and obvious Hh ligands. Despite this, <br>
 C. elegans retains Patched homologs, <br>
 ptc-1 and <br>
 ptc-3, which have specialized independent functions. Although <br>
 ptc-1 is predominantly expressed in the germ line and <br>
 ptc-3 in somatic tissues, we demonstrate that both genes are required to maintain germ cell populations and proper actin cytoskeletal architecture in the progenitor zone of the germ line. Disruption of actin-encoding genes impairs germ cell S-phase and reduces the number of cells in the progenitor zone, indicating that cytoskeletal integrity is critical for maintaining the germ line. Furthermore, defects observed upon loss of Patched function are linked to disruptions in cholesterol metabolism. We show that the phenotypes observed in the gonads due to dietary cholesterol changes can be modulated through Patched receptors. Together, our findings reveal a role for Patched receptors in regulating gonad architecture and germ cell development through cholesterol-sensitive functions, offering insights into how metabolic cues influence the organization of complex tissues.<br>
 </p>}},
  author       = {{Farley, Johanna Kate and Schwalbe, Madeleine and Forsberg, Fredrik and Amran, Aqilah and Gopal, Sandeep}},
  issn         = {{1522-1563}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{American Physiological Society}},
  series       = {{American journal of physiology. Cell physiology}},
  title        = {{Patched controls cell cycle and tissue architecture in C. elegans gonad.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00486.2025}},
  doi          = {{10.1152/ajpcell.00486.2025}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}