An ankyrin-related gene (unc-44) is necessary for proper axonal guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Caenorhabditis elegans unc-44 mutations result in aberrant axon guidance and fasciculation with inappropriate partners. The unc-44 gene was cloned by transposon tagging, and verified by genetic and molecular analyses of six transposon-induced alleles and their revertants. Nucleotide sequence analyses demonstrated that unc-44 encodes a series of putative ankyrin-related proteins, including AO49 ankyrin (1815 aa, 198.8 kD), AO66 ankyrin (1867 aa, 204 kD), and AO13 ankyrin (< or = 4700 aa, < or = 517 kD). In addition to the major set of approximately 6 kb alternatively spliced transcripts, minor transcripts were observed at approximately 3, 5, 7, and 14 kb. Evidence is provided that mutations in the approximately 14-kb AO13 ankyrin transcript are responsible for the neuronal defects. These molecular studies provide the first evidence that ankyrin-related molecules are required for axonal guidance.
Otsuka
A J
AJ
Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal 61790-4120, USA.
Franco
R
R
Yang
B
B
Shim
K H
KH
Tang
L Z
LZ
Zhang
Y Y
YY
Boontrakulpoontawee
P
P
Jeyaprakash
A
A
Hedgecock
E
E
Wheaton
V I
VI
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D009474:Neurons; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism
D017487:Ankyrins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C093514:unc-44 protein, C elegans; D013049:Spectrin