Worm: Excretory Cell (WBbt_0005812)
Worm excretory cell is a H-shaped cell type associated with the excretory system, the largest cell in C. elegans.
Above is a graphic of worm excretory cell (Reference: https://www.wormatlas.org/aging/excretory/mainframe.htm). Copyright: WormBase.
WBbt ID: WBbt_0005812
WBbt definition: H-shaped cell associated with the excretory system, largest cell in C. elegans. [database_cross_reference: WB:rynl]
Synonyms: excretory canal cell; lineage name: ABplpappaap; exc_cell
Cross-reference to Cell Ontology term: CL_0000424
Cell Hierarchy (defined by WBbt):
Worm excretory cell hierarchy according to the C. elegans Gross Anatomy Ontology (WBbt):
Above is a graphic of excretory cell hierarchy (source: screenshot from Ontobee). Later on we will show a cell hierarchy with live links to other cell types.
Anatomical Location:
Worm excretory canal cell is located juxtaposed to the terminal bulb of the pharynx on the ventral side.
Connections and Vicinity:
Worm excretory canal cell is the largest cell in the nematode. The excretory canal cell and three other cell types (i.e., pore cell, the duct cell and bilateral gland cells) form the excretory apparatus of the organism.
Cell Biomarkers:
- Lineage identity: LAG-1/CSL, CEH-36/Otx + UNC-30/Pitx (Ref: PMC4858784)
- Epithelial identity: LIN-26/C2H2 (Ref: PMC4858784)
- Fate Execution: PROS-1/Prox1^, CEH-6/POU, NHR-31/HNF4 (Ref: PMC4858784)
Cell Differentation and Lineage:
Lineage origin: ABplpappaap.
The birth of the H-shaped excretory cell occurs at 270 minutes after the first cell cleavage (just around the end of gastrulation at 22℃), which provides an easily identifiable landmark in embryogenesis.
Transcription factors important for canal cell differentiation:
- LIN-26: A nematode-specific C2H2 zinc finger protein important for epithelial differentiation and maintenance. The loss of this gene leads to epidermal degeneration as well as variable defects in canal morphology (Ref: PMC4858784).
- PROS-1: a.k.a. CEH-26, RDY-3. Prospero-related homeodomain transcription factor (Ref: PMC4858784).
- CEH-6: A POU-family homeodomain transcription factor related to mammalian Brn1, which is required for development and function of the distal tubule of mouse kidney (Ref: PMC4858784).
- NHR-31: A nuclear hormone receptor related to mammalian HNF4a (Ref: PMC4858784).
Cell Type Evolution Among Organisms:
Worm excretory canal cell serves a function similar to the mammalian kidney and ureter structures. See analogous cells in other organisms:
- Human podocyte: https://cellcards.org/podocyte.php
- Fly pericardial nephrocyte: https://cellcards.org/fly_pericardial_nephrocyte.php
Related Key Gene Ontology Terms:
- excretory system process (GO_0003014): A organ system process carried out by any of the organs or tissues of the renal system. The renal system maintains fluid balance, and contributes to electrolyte balance, acid/base balance, and disposal of nitrogenous waste products. In humans, the renal system comprises a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, sphincter muscle and associated blood vessels; in other species, the renal system may comprise related structures (e.g., nephrocytes and malpighian tubules in Drosophila).
Neighborhood cell types:
The neighborhood cell types of worm excretory cell are described in detail in the C. elegans excretory system Cell Connectome.
Gene Expression Profiles:
More to add. Stay tuned ...
Pathways and Functional Maps:
Podocyte-associated pathways and functional maps:
More to add. Stay tuned ...
References:
- WormBase: https://wormbase.org.
- Worm Atlas: Excretory System: https://www.wormatlas.org/hermaphrodite/excretory/jump.html?newLink=mainframe.htm.
- Wiki - C. elegans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans.
- Ontobee search for excretory cell: https://ontobee.org/search?ontology=&keywords=excretory+canal&submit=Search+terms.
- Meera V Sundaram, Matthew Buechner. The Caenorhabditis elegans Excretory System: A Model for Tubulogenesis, Cell Fate Specification, and Plasticity. Genetics. 2016 May;203(1):35-63. PMCID: PMC4858784.
- Lee RY, Sternberg PW. Building a cell and anatomy ontology of Caenorhabditis elegans. Comp Funct Genomics. 2003;4(1):121-6. doi: 10.1002/cfg.248. PMID: 18629098; PMCID: PMC2447384.
- Search PubMed for: C. elegans excretory cell.
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