Genetics of Lipid-Storage Management in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos

Lipids play a pivotal role in embryogenesis as structural components of cellular membranes, as a source of energy, and as signaling molecules. On the basis of a collection of temperature-sensitive embryonic lethal mutants, a systematic database search, and a subsequent microscopic analysis of >30...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetics (Austin) 2016-03, Vol.202 (3), p.1071-1083
Main Authors: Schmökel, Verena, Memar, Nadin, Wiekenberg, Anne, Trotzmüller, Martin, Schnabel, Ralf, Döring, Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans - embryology
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism
Cathepsin L - genetics
Cathepsin L - metabolism
Embryonic Development
Embryos
Genetics
Insects
Investigations
Lipid Metabolism - genetics
Lipids
Mutation
RNA Interference
Signal transduction
Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase - genetics
Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase - metabolism
Vesicular Transport Proteins - genetics
Vesicular Transport Proteins - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Lipids play a pivotal role in embryogenesis as structural components of cellular membranes, as a source of energy, and as signaling molecules. On the basis of a collection of temperature-sensitive embryonic lethal mutants, a systematic database search, and a subsequent microscopic analysis of >300 interference RNA (RNAi)-treated/mutant worms, we identified a couple of evolutionary conserved genes associated with lipid storage in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. The genes include cpl-1 (cathepsin L-like cysteine protease), ccz-1 (guanine nucleotide exchange factor subunit), and asm-3 (acid sphingomyelinase), which is closely related to the human Niemann-Pick disease-causing gene SMPD1. The respective mutant embryos accumulate enlarged droplets of neutral lipids (cpl-1) and yolk-containing lipid droplets (ccz-1) or have larger genuine lipid droplets (asm-3). The asm-3 mutant embryos additionally showed an enhanced resistance against C band ultraviolet (UV-C) light. Herein we propose that cpl-1, ccz-1, and asm-3 are genes required for the processing of lipid-containing droplets in C. elegans embryos. Owing to the high levels of conservation, the identified genes are also useful in studies of embryonic lipid storage in other organisms.
ISSN:1943-2631
0016-6731
1943-2631
DOI:10.1534/genetics.115.179127