Galectin LEC-1 plays a defensive role against damage due to oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans.
LEC-1 is a major galectin in Caenorhabditis elegans and contains two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), N-CRD and C-CRD. To determine the role of LEC-1, we examined the phenotypes of a mutant C. elegans strain lacking lec-1. We observed negligible differences in embryogenesis, morphogenesis and egg laying at 20 °C between the mutant and the wild-type. Furthermore, the life spans of the mutant and the wild-type were equivalent at either 20 °C or 25 °C. However, the lec-1 mutant showed a greater susceptibility to H2O2 and paraquat than the wild-type. This result suggests an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress, with the phenotypes being similar to those of lec-10 deletion mutants as previously described. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying this phenotype, C. elegans proteins bound by either the LEC-1 N-CRD or C-CRD were isolated and identified using a nano liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique. MIG-6 was identified as a major binding partner of LEC-1 with both N- and C-CRD. From these results and previous reports, we speculate that interaction of LEC-1 and MIG-6 in the pharynx may affect susceptibility to paraquat and that LEC-10 has different functions from LEC-1 in regulating H2O2 and paraquat resistance in the intestine.
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295; and Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Pharma Sciences, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan.
Tomoharu
T
Takeuchi
Yoko
Y
Nemoto-Sasaki
Ken-ichi
K
Sugiura
Yoichiro
Y
Arata
Ken-ichi
K
Kasai
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D037161:Galectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D009154:Mutation; D036103:Nanotechnology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010641:Phenotype; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D037161:Galectins; C525184:Lec-1 protein, C elegans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
Caenorhabditis elegans; LEC-1; galectin; oxidative stress; paraquat