The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study the roles of proteoglycans.
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful animal model for exploring the genetic basis of metazoan development. Recent genetic and biochemical studies have revealed that the molecular machinery of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis and modification is highly conserved between C. elegans and mammals. In addition, genetic studies have implicated GAGs in vulval morphogenesis and zygotic cytokinesis. The extensive knowledge of C. elegans biology, including its elucidated cell lineage, together with the completed and well annotated DNA sequence and availability of reverse genetic tools, provide a platform for studying the functions of proteoglycans and their GAG modification.
Berninsone
Patricia M
PM
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Hirschberg
Carlos B
CB
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005260:Female; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000254:growth & development
D011509:Proteoglycans