title: Requirement of V-ATPase for ovulation and embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that VHA-11, the C subunit of Caenorhabditis elegans V-ATPase, was localized in dot-like structures around the nuclei of early embryonic cells and was also detected in embryonic intestinal cells after comma stage. Vital staining with acridine orange showed that the intestinal cells had acidic compartments generated by V-ATPase, consistent with the intracellular localization of VHA-11. RNA interference could efficiently silence vha-11 gene expression: introduction of vha-11 double strand RNA led to embryonic lethality. Worms injected with the vha-11 double strand RNA produced embryos that became lethal. The development of embryos was arrested at various stages. However, their numbers gradually decreased, and the worms eventually became sterile due to the failure of ovulation. Similar results were obtained for RNA interference of the V-ATPase proteolipid genes. These results suggest that V-ATPases, and thus inside-acidic organelles, are required for ovulation and embryogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Futai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000502:physiology; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000502:physiology*; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017494:Proton Pumps; C506985:vha-11 protein, C elegans; C506986:vha-2 protein, C elegans; C506987:vha-3 protein, C elegans; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; C506981:unc-32 protein, C elegans; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases