Small-molecule pheromones that control dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans.
In response to high population density or low food supply, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans enters an alternative larval stage, known as the dauer, that can withstand adverse conditions for prolonged periods. C. elegans senses its population density through a small-molecule signal, traditionally called the dauer pheromone, that it secretes into its surroundings. Here we show that the dauer pheromone consists of several structurally related ascarosides-derivatives of the dideoxysugar ascarylose-and that two of these ascarosides (1 and 2) are roughly two orders of magnitude more potent at inducing dauer formation than a previously reported dauer pheromone component (3) and constitute a physiologically relevant signal. The identification of dauer pheromone components 1 and 2 will facilitate the identification of target receptors and downstream signaling proteins.
Butcher
Rebecca A
RA
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Fujita
Masaki
M
Schroeder
Frank C
FC
Clardy
Jon
J
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry; D006601:Hexoses / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010675:Pheromones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D006017:Glycolipids; D006601:Hexoses; D010675:Pheromones; C004439:ascaroside A; C009616:tyvelose