SHN-1, a Shank homologue in C. elegans, affects defecation rhythm via the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.
Protein localization in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of neurons is mediated by scaffolding proteins such as PSD-95 and Shank, which ensure proper function of receptors at the membrane. The Shank family of scaffolding proteins contain PDZ (PSD-95, Dlg, and ZO-1) domains and have been implicated in the localizations of many receptor proteins including glutamate receptors in mammals. We have identified and characterized shn-1, the only homologue of Shank in Caenorhabditis elegans. The shn-1 gene shows approximately 40% identity over 1000 amino acids to rat Shanks. SHN-1 protein is localized in various tissues including neurons, pharynx and intestine. RNAi suppression of SHN-1 did not cause lethality or developmental abnormality. However, suppression of SHN-1 in the itr-1 (sa73) mutant, which has a defective inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptor, resulted in animals with altered defecation rhythm. Our data suggest a possible role of SHN-1 in affecting function of IP(3) receptors in C. elegans.
Jee
Changhoon
C
Department of Life Science, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Kwangju 500-712, South Korea.
Lee
Jungsoo
J
Lee
Jin Il
JI
Lee
Won Hae
WH
Park
Byung-Jae
BJ
Yu
Jae-Ran
JR
Park
Eunhye
E
Kim
Eunjoon
E
Ahnn
Joohong
J
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003672:Defecation / Q000235:genetics*; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010507:Periodicity; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D017385:Sequence Homology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; C484510:SHN-1 protein, C elegans; C120531:Shank1 protein, rat