title: Isoprenylation of polypeptides in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Covalent modification of eucaryotic proteins, involving addition of isoprenyl groups, is a widespread phenomenon. Here we provide direct evidence for this form of covalent modification in the free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Following incubation in the presence of [3H]mevalonolactone, specific C. elegans polypeptides became labelled in both aqueous and detergent (Triton X-114)-enriched extracts. Chemical and GC-MS analysis of modifying groups, cleaved from C. elegans polypeptides, revealed that geranylgeranylation and, to a lesser extent, farnesylation of target polypeptides occurred. Immunoblot analysis provided preliminary evidence that the ras-like let-60 polypeptide was a target for isoprenylation in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Aspbury
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003902:Detergents; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D017830:Octoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D014316:Tritium; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014316:Tritium; C066646:let-60 protein, C elegans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C015367:mevalonolactone; D017830:Octoxynol; C010615:Nonidet P-40; D018631:ras Proteins; D008798:Mevalonic Acid