Pleiotropic roles of calumenin (calu-1), a calcium-binding ER luminal protein, in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Calumenin is a Ca(2+) binding protein localizing at the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although it has been implicated in various diseases, the in vivo functions of calumenin are largely unknown. Here, we report that calumenin has pleiotropic roles in muscle and cuticle function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutant analysis revealed that the calu-1 is required for regulating fertility, locomotion and body size. In addition, calu-1 is important for two behaviors, defecation and pharyngeal pumping, consistent with its ability to bind Ca(2+). The genetic analysis further suggested the possibility that calu-1 regulates the pharyngeal pumping together with the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) receptor encoded by itr-1. Taken together, our data suggest that calumenin is important for calcium signaling pathways in C. elegans.
Cho
Jeong Hoon
JH
Division of Biology Education, College of Education, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
Song
Hyun-Ok
HO
Singaravelu
Gunasekaran
G
Sung
Hyun
H
Oh
Won-Chan
WC
Kwon
Soonjae
S
Kim
Do Han
DH
Ahnn
Joohong
J
D049628:Body Size; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005298:Fertility; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D008124:Locomotion; D009132:Muscles; D016296:Mutagenesis
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; C544544:calu-1 protein, C elegans