SEARCH FOR INTERACTORS OF EGL-15 AND SAX-7 IN THE C ELEGANS NERVOUS SYSTEM

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. During development of the nervous system dedicated mechanisms ensure that axons not only navigate to their correct targets but also maintain their position in fascicles. At completion of their development, axons in the C. elegans ventral nerve cord require the presence of the PVT neuron to maintain their correct position in the left and right fascicles. The stabilizing function of PVT is mediated by secretion of the Immunoglobulin (Ig) domain protein encoded by the zig-4 gene. Other factors shown to be required for axon maintenance are the receptor tyrosine kinase Ig-domain containing fibroblast growth factor receptor, EGL-15(5A), and the L1 cell adhesion molecule ortholog, SAX-7. We are interested in identifying other factors which interact with EGL-15 and SAX-7 in order to elucidate their maintenance function. In addition, we are interested in the essential function of EGL-15. Tandem affinity purification of EGL-15 and SAX-7 will enable interactors of protein complexes involved in such processes to be identified by mass spectrometry.