The DAF-8

nematode The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...

encoding a R-SMAD

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...

TGF-beta signaling pathway The transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway is involved in many cellular processes in both the adult organism and the developing embryo including cell growth, cell differentiation, cell migration, apoptosis, cellular homeostasis an ...

, which was originally found in

model organism A model organism (often shortened to model) is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into the workin ...

Caenorhabditis elegans ''Caenorhabditis elegans'' () is a free-living transparent nematode about 1 mm in length that lives in temperate soil environments. It is the type species of its genus. The name is a blend of the Greek ''caeno-'' (recent), ''rhabditis'' (ro ...

''. When the TGF-β ligand

daf-7 The DAF-7 gene encodes for the ortholog of GDF11, a ligand of TGF-beta signaling pathway, in the worm ''Caenorhabditis elegans''. When binds to the complex of type II receptor Daf-4 and type I receptor Daf-1, this receptor protein serine/threonine ...

binds to the TGF-β receptors

daf-1 The DAF-1 gene encodes for a cell surface Enzyme-linked receptor of TGF-beta signaling pathway in the worm ''Caenorhabditis elegans''. DAF-1 is one of the type I receptor of TGF-beta pathway. DAF-1 acts as a receptor protein serine/threonine ...

daf-4 The DAF-4 gene encodes for the only type II receptor of TGF-beta signaling pathway in the worm ''Caenorhabditis elegans'', with the ligands Daf-7 or Dbl-1. When binds to the ligand Daf-7, Daf-4 complexed with the type I receptor Daf-1, and activa ...

on the surface of nematode cell, daf-8 will be

phosphorylated In chemistry, phosphorylation is the attachment of a phosphate group to a molecule or an ion. This process and its inverse, dephosphorylation, are common in biology and could be driven by natural selection. Text was copied from this source, whi ...

and forms a

heterodimer In biochemistry, a protein dimer is a macromolecular complex formed by two protein monomers, or single proteins, which are usually non-covalently bound. Many macromolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, form dimers. The word ''dimer'' has ...

with

daf-14 The DAF-14 is a gene of the nematode ''Caenorhabditis elegans'' encoding a R-SMAD protein of TGF-beta signaling pathway, which will be phosphorylated and forms a heterodimer with phosphorylated daf-8 when the TGF-β ligand daf-7 binds to the TGF-� ...

, then enter to the

nucleus Nucleus ( : nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to: *Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom *Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA Nucle ...

to inhibit transcription regulated by daf-3/ daf-5.

References

Caenorhabditis elegans genes {{Gene-stub