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KMID : 0578320110310050455
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Molecules and Cells
2011 Volume.31 No. 5 p.455 ~ p.459
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A Possible Role for FRM-1, a C. elegans FERM Family Protein, in Embryonic Development
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Choi Bo-Ram
Kang Jun-Su
Park Yang-Seo
Lee Jun-Ho
Cho Nam-Jeong
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Abstract
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FRM-1 is a member of the FERM protein superfamily con-taining a FERM domain, which is a highly conserved pro-tein-protein interaction module found in most eukaryo-tes. Although FRM-1 is thought to be involved in linking intracellular proteins to membrane proteins, the specific role for FRM-1 remains to be elucidated. In an effort to explore the biological function of FRM-1, we examined the phenotype of frm-1(tm4168) mutant worms. We observed that frm-1(tm4168) worms have a delayed hatching phenotype. Twelve hours after being laid, when virtually all wild-type eggs had hatched, only 64% of frm-1(tm4168) eggs had hatched. About 3% of frm-1(tm4168) eggs failed to hatch, even 3 days after they had been laid. We also found that frm-1(tm4168) mutants displayed a temperature-sensitive sterility phenotype. About 13% of frm-1(tm4168) worms were unable to produce eggs or produced nonviable eggs at 25°C. In contrast, less than 1% of wild-type animals were sterile at this temperature. At 20°C, neither the mutant nor wild type appeared to be sterile. Western blot analysis indicates that FRM-1 is expressed throughout the developmental stages with the strongest expression at the egg stage. Immunostaining experiments revealed that FRM-1 is mainly localized to the plasma membrane of most if not all cells at an early embryonic stage and to the plasma membrane of P cells during the late embryonic stages. GFP fusion experiments showed that FRM-1 can be expressed in the pharynx and intestine at the larval and adult stages. Our data suggest that FRM-1 may participate in diverse biological processes, including embryonic development.
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KEYWORD
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C. elegans, embryonic development, FERM protein superfamily, FRM-1
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