Crosstalk Between the EGFR and LIN-12/Notch Pathways in C. elegans Vulval Development

Abstract

The Caenorhabditis elegans vulva is an important paradigm for cell-cell interactions in animal development. The fates of six vulval precursor cells are patterned through the action of the epidermal growth factor receptor–mitogen-activated protein kinase (EGFR-MAPK) inductive signaling pathway, which specifies the 1° fate, and the LIN-12/Notch lateral signaling pathway, which specifies the 2° fate. Here, we provide evidence that the inductive signal is spatially graded and initially activates the EGFR-MAPK pathway in the prospective 2° cells. Subsequently, this effect is counteracted by the expression of multiple new negative regulators of the EGFR-MAPK pathway, under direct transcriptional control of the LIN-12–mediated lateral signal.