title: Ultrastructural analyses of the Caenorhabditis elegans DR 847 bli-1(n361) mutant which produces abnormal cuticle blisters.
abstract: The bli-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans has been previously described as a mutation which disrupts the structure of the adult-stage cuticle causing the formation of fluid-filled blisters. We investigated the blistering phenotype exhibiting n361 allele and observed a gradual blister formation in adult nematodes. In the course several fine changes occurred including a high electron density granulous material filling the intermediate layer, alterations on struts structure, and finally the total disappearance of the fibrous and basal layers. With the ethanolic phosphotungstic acid technique (E-PTA), which localizes basic proteins, reaction product was observed in the cortical layer of the wild strain, whereas in the mutant strain an irregular labelling pattern was observed in this region. The granulous material inside the intermediate layer of the mutant strain showed also a strong reaction. An imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide solution was used to visualize lipids at ultrastructural level, however no dense product was detected in the cuticle of both strains of C. elegans. Based on these results we postulated that the blistering phenotype is due to an altered function of bli-1 gene, which is probably enzymatic.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics 'Carlos Chagas Filho', Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: De Melo
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Peixoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001768:Blister / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid