Grace Gong

L1 Cell Adhesion Molecules (L1CAMs) are transmembrane proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily; these molecules play an important role in the development of the nervous system and its function. Impaired L1CAM function has been linked to various neuropsychiatric disorders and L1 syndrome, which is characterized by symptoms including spastic paraplegia and congenital hydrocephalus. L1CAMs are highly conserved in other vertebrates and invertebrates. In order to pinpoint L1CAM genetic interactions, we use Canaerobitis elegans, which has a simpler genome and amenability to genetic manipulation. In the model organism C.elegans, a single gene, sax-7, encodes for a canonical L1CAM. Previous findings from our lab suggests that sax-7 antagonizes the ERK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway in the nervous system to regulate synaptic activity and promote coordinated locomotion. Furthermore, preliminary data from our lab also suggests a novel non-neuronal role for sax-7 in vulval development. Intriguingly, this data also supports a role for sax-7 in antagonizing the ERK-MAPK pathway, which is integral to vulval development. This project uses genetic epistasis analysis to better define the following: 1) how sax-7 contributes to vulval development, and 2) the cells in which sax-7 functions to promote vulval development. While L1CAMs have well-characterized roles in nervous system development, they also are implicated in cancer. With a significant % of cancers caused by dysregulated Erk signaling, this study in C. elegans will provide insight into the contributions of L1CAM functions in cancer.