title: DAF-9, a cytochrome P450 regulating C. elegans larval development and adult longevity.
abstract: The daf-9 gene functions to integrate transforming growth factor-beta and insulin-like signaling pathways to regulate Caenorhabditis elegans larval development. Mutations in daf-9 result in transient dauer-like larval arrest, abnormal reproductive development, molting defects and increased adult longevity. The phenotype is sterol-dependent, and dependent on the activity of DAF-12, a nuclear hormone receptor. Genetic tests show that daf-9 is upstream of daf-12 in the genetic pathways for larval development and adult longevity. daf-9 encodes a cytochrome P450 related to those involved in biosynthesis of steroid hormones in mammals. We propose that it specifies a step in the biosynthetic pathway for a DAF-12 ligand, which might be a steroid. The surprising cellular specificity of daf-9 expression (predominantly in two sensory neurons) supports a previously unrecognized role for these cells in neuroendocrine control of larval development, reproduction and life span.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Program and Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Kailiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Patrice S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Riddle
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System