| Though cell invasion behavior is critical for developmental processes and tissue integrity, the molecular mechanisms that integrate both the extracellular signals with cell-autonomous regulators remains poorly understood. To investigate the microenvironmental signals contributing to anchor cell (AC) invasion in C. elegans, I focused here on two extrinsic signals: the netrin signaling pathway and the unknown vulval chemical cue. I examined the interaction of these cues in C. elegans and determined their role in regulating AC invasion in a distantly related nematode species, O. tipulae. By assessing the influence of loss of the chemical cue to netrin signaling and invasive protrusion extension in C. elegans, I first confirmed previous results about the independence of the two extracellular cues. Second, I generated a genetically encoded, optogenetic tool in C. elegans: miniSOG2, to substitute for UV laser ablation, to allow for high-throughput imaging, post-ablation. Finally, I analyzed the AC invasion guidance cues in O. tipulae, and identified the conserved role played by netrin and the chemical cue in both species. Taken together, we suggest that netrin and the unknown cue are critical and conserved during AC invasion since the last common ancestor of Eurhadbitis, which existed over several million years ago. |
