Complex II inactivation is lethal in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) was employed to systematically inactivate the four subunits of complex II in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Embryonic lethality was the predominant result of inactivating three subunits (ceSDHB, ceSDHC, and ceSDHD) when using the soaking method to inactivate RNA. The feeding method was employed to deliver dsRNA from the fourth subunit (ceSDHA) to wild-type, mev-1 (mutated in ceSDHC of complex II), and gas-1 animals (mutated in a complex I gene). Survival was reduced only in the mev-1 genetic background, and in an oxygen-dependent fashion. Collectively, these data provide further evidence that compromised complex II integrity can result in sensitivity to oxidative stress.
Ichimiya
Harumi
H
Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
Huet
R Giselle
RG
Hartman
Phil
P
Amino
Hisako
H
Kita
Kiyoshi
K
Ishii
Naoaki
N