BMP Signaling Regulates Extracellular Matrix Composition and Permeability in C.elegans

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway signaling plays a critical role in extracellular growth and homeostasis, including basement membrane remodeling and long bone growth. In the small free-living nematode C. elegans, BMP signaling regulates body size development and drug response through an unknown physiological mechanism. Our lab and others have shown animals lacking BMP signaling (bmp(-)) are short and display increased sensitivity to anesthetics, while animals overproducing BMP ((bmp(++)) are long and display resistance to anesthetics [1]. Signaling factors or organization of the cuticle, an extracellular matrix that surrounds and protects the animal from its environment, can influence body shape [2]. Further, large-scale gene expression studies have shown that some cuticular collagen are highly regulated by BMP signaling [3-5]. Based on these data, we tested the hypothesis that BMP affects body length and drug response through organization of the nematode cuticle.