title: Characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans lectin-binding mutants.
abstract: We have identified 45 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans that show ectopic surface binding of the lectins wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA). These mutations are all recessive and define six genes: srf-2, srf-3, srf-4, srf-5, srf-8 and srf-9. Mutations in these genes fall into two phenotypic classes: srf-2, -3, -5 mutants are grossly wild-type, except for their lectin-binding phenotype; srf-4, -8, -9 mutants have a suite of defects, including uncoordinated movement, abnormal egg laying, and defective copulatory bursae morphogenesis. Characterization of these pleiotropic mutants at the cellular level reveals defects in the migration of the gonadal distal tip cell and in axon morphology. Unexpectedly, the pleiotropic mutations also interact with mutations in the lin-12 gene, which encodes a putative cell surface receptor involved in the control of cell fate. We propose that the underlying defect in the pleiotropic mutations may be in the general processing or secretion of extracellular proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Colorado 80208.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dames
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C028824:soybean lectin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins