Deletion of lec-10, a galectin-encoding gene, increases susceptibility to oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding lectins. They are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological phenomena in mammals. However, little is known about their roles in invertebrates. Caenorhabditis elegans is a well-characterized model organism whose complete genome has been sequenced. C. elegans is now being studied extensively in various fields of medical sciences. In this study, we examined the phenotypes of a mutant strain of C. elegans (tm1262) lacking lec-10, a galectin-encoding gene. We observed no difference in the rates of embryonic lethality and larval arrest/slow growth between this mutant strain and the wild-type strain. No apparent morphological defect was observed in the lec-10-deletion mutant (tm1262). Moreover, the life-spans of this mutant and the wild-type strain were equivalent. However, this mutant showed significantly greater susceptibility to paraquat and hydrogen peroxide than the wild type did. The lec-10-deletion mutants (tm1262) were as susceptible as the daf-16-deletion mutants (mu86) to paraquat and hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that the deletion of lec-10 does not have a notable effect on the worm's survival under laboratory conditions. However, this study indicates that lec-10 does confer some protection against oxidative stress.
Nemoto-Sasaki
Yoko
Y
Department of Biological Chemistry, Teikyo University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
Kasai
Ken-ichi
K
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D016877:Oxidants; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D010269:Paraquat; D010641:Phenotype
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D037161:Galectins; D016877:Oxidants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010269:Paraquat