title: Characterization of the astacin family of metalloproteases in C. elegans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Astacins are a large family of zinc metalloproteases found in bacteria and animals. They have diverse roles ranging from digestion of food to processing of extracellular matrix components. The C. elegans genome contains an unusually large number of astacins, of which the majority have not been functionally characterized yet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed the expression pattern of previously uncharacterized members of the astacin family to try and obtain clues to potential functions. Prominent sites of expression for many members of this family are the hypodermis, the alimentary system and several specialized cells including sensory sheath and sockets cells, which are located at openings in the body wall. We isolated mutants affecting representative members of the various subfamilies. Mutants in nas-5, nas-21 and nas-39 (the BMP-1/Tolloid homologue) are viable and have no apparent phenotypic defects. Mutants in nas-6 and nas-6; nas-7 double mutants are slow growing and have defects in the grinder of the pharynx, a cuticular structure important for food processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression data and phenotypic characterization of selected family members suggest a diversity of functions for members of the astacin family in nematodes. In part this might be due to extracellular structures unique to nematodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Ja-On
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Möhrlen
authors.forename: Marcus-Oliver
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zapf
authors.forename: Donald G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Moerman
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hutter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D045726:Metalloproteases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C071288:astacin