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Resources » Paper

Penkov, Sider et al. (2013) International Worm Meeting "Nematoil - a novel secreted lipid that coats the outer surface of the dauer larva of Pristionchus pacificus."

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  • Comments on Penkov, Sider et al. (2013) International Worm Meeting "Nematoil - a novel secreted lipid that coats the outer surface of the dauer larva of Pristionchus pacificus." (0)

  • Overview

    Status:
    Publication type:
    Meeting_abstract
    WormBase ID:
    WBPaper00043195

    Penkov, Sider, Ogawa, Akira, Passler, Ulrike, Gruner, Margit, Knolker, Hans-Joachim, Sommer, Ralf, & Kurzchalia, Teymuras (2013). Nematoil - a novel secreted lipid that coats the outer surface of the dauer larva of Pristionchus pacificus presented in International Worm Meeting. Unpublished information; cite only with author permission.

    The dauer larva formed by multiple nematodes is a specialized developmentally arrested stage for survival and dispersal from unfavorable environment. The survival abilities of dauer larvae are determined by their specific morphology, metabolism, and enhanced stress resistance. A major morphological feature of dauer larvae is the remodeled body surface - they are effectively sealed off by a dauer-specific cuticle that restricts the chemical exchange with the environment. Although the dauer formation is genetically well investigated in several nematode models, there is no much information about the chemical means by which dauer larvae resist to the various kinds of environmental stress. We have found that the nematode Pristionchus pacificus synthesizes dauer stage specific lipids that form a hydrophobic film covering the entire outer surface of the animal. Detailed observation showed that the synthesis and the secretion of the lipids are simultaneously executed late in dauer differentiation, shortly preceded by the molt to dauer larva. The hydrophobic film is a complex mixture of several lipids and advanced chemical analysis revealed that its major component is a very long-chain polyunsaturated wax ester that we name Nematoil. The lipid coat alters the surface properties of the animals - they tend to congregate in tight "dauer clumps" consisting of up to hundreds of individuals, which supposedly enhances their impermeability. Thus, P. pacificus dauer larvae have the biochemical means to enhance their stress response by counteracting collectively.

    Affiliations:
    - Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
    - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
    - Laboratory for Developmental Dynamics RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center Kobe, Japan
    - Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, Germany


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