Michael Layden et al. (2001) International C. elegans Meeting "gly-3 through gly-11 are glycosyltransferases critical for embryo morphogenesis"

Fred Hagen, Schona Mookerjee, Alison Schwartz, Michael Layden

[International C. elegans Meeting, 2001]

Glycoproteins and proteoglycans may be distinguished by the type of sugars that are O-linked to specific amino acid side chains. Mutations in some glycosyltransferases revealed that the sugar chains are essential for modulation of notch signaling and embryo polarity in the fly. Because the functional significance of most cell surface sugars are not know, we have begun to systematically characterize glycosyltransferase gene families in C. elegans . The ppGaNTase gene family encodes enzymes responsible for the initiation of mucin type O-linked glycosylation. Previously, our lab has shown that 11 unique sequence homologs exist in C. elegans: gly-3, gly-4, gly5a, gly-5b, gly-5c, gly-6a, gly-6b, gly-6c, gly-7, gly-8, and gly-9. 1 Completion of the C. elegans genome sequence yielded two more putative members of the family, gly-10 and gly-11. Gly-10 and gly-11 cDNAs were obtained by screening a lambda phage mixed-stage N2 cDNA library. Sequencing the cDNAs confirmed the presence of a highly conserved catalytic domain that is essential for glycosylation activity. Recombinant GLY11 protein showed catalytic activity in vitro using mammalian apo-mucin peptides as substrates, while GLY10 showed no significant activity above background. Confident that the family is known in its entirety we used gly -promoter::(lacZ or GFP) constructs for each family member to produce transgenic animals. Expression patterns showed that family members had unique expression patterns both temporally and spatially throughout C. elegans development and into adulthood. There was overlapping expression and biochemical activity for some members of the family. Redundancy between some of the family members was suggested by RNA interference (RNAi) studies, in that knockdown of mRNA expression did not reveal any significant loss-of-function phenotype for most of the isoforms. Gly -4 RNAi, however, resulted in 30% embryonic lethality. We also used promoter driven antisense constructs to knock down gene expression of multiple glycosyltransferases in a tissue-specific manner. Co-injection of multiple let-653 promoter:: gly -antisense cDNA constructs revealed an embryonic lethal phenotype. In addition, we also observed arrested 2-fold larva at hatching and a potential adhesion defect in the anterior hypodermal cells. These data along with unique expression pattern support the theory that the glycosylation machinery is differentially regulated on a cellular basis during development and is critical for cell-cell interactions. To validate these studies, we are developing inhibitory single chain antibody reagents against GLY11 and other glycosyltransferases and glycoproteins. 1 Hagen and Nehrke (1998) cDNA cloning and expression of a family of UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase sequence homologs from Caenorhabditis elegans . J Biol Chem. 273:8268-77

Colonnello A et al. (2020) Neurotox Res "Correction to: Comparing the Neuroprotective Effects of Caffeic Acid in Rat Cortical Slices and Caenorhabditis elegans: Involvement of Nrf2 and SKN-1 Signaling Pathways."

Tunez I, Rubio-Lopez LC, Aguilera-Portillo G, Silva-Palacios A, Evaristo-Priego Y, Santamaria A, Galvan-Arzate S, Cortez-Nunez S, Aschner M, Rangel-Lopez E, Chen P, Colonnello A, Robles-Banuelos B, Garcia-Contreras R

[Neurotox Res, 2020]

One of the authors has incorrect family name spelling in the original article_. Michael Ashner should read as Michael Aschner.

Hengartner MO et al. (1992) Worm Breeder's Gazette "unc-50, a Gene Required for Acetylcholine Receptor Function, Encodes an Unfamiliar Protein"

Horvitz HR, Tsung N, Hengartner MO, Lewis JA

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1992]

unc-50, a gene requiired for acetylcholine receptor function, encodes an unfamiliar protein Michael Hengartner, Nancy Tsung, Jim Lewist, and Bob Horvitz HHMI, Dept. Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. t Division of Life Sciences, U. of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, IX 78249

Holway AH et al. (2007) J Cell Biol "Checkpoint silencing during the DNA damage response in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos"

Kim SH, Michael WM, La Volpe A, Holway AH

[J Cell Biol, 2007]

After publication of this manuscript, the authors noticed that two images (Fig. 4 B, top left and middle) had been duplicated from a previous publication (Holway, A.H., C. Hung, and W.M. Michael. 2005. Genetics. 169:14511460). Here we provide new images corresponding to these control experiments. The authors apologize for this oversight.

Zhou MH et al. (1996) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Liquid Culture of the Worms with a Fermentor"

Zhou MH, Yang H, Walthall WW

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1996]

The yield of C. elegans and their food (E.coli) are relatively low in the large liquid cultures growth (Koelle et al.,1994) and the whole growth process is tedious. Here we report the successful growth of C.elegans with a fermentor. The following protocol is based on the protocol by Michael Koelle and Tory Herman (1994) from Internet.

Michael WM (2017) MicroPubl Biol "Asymmetric distribution of cyb-3 in 4-cell stage embryos."

Michael WM

[MicroPubl Biol, 2017]

Early embryos were fixed and stained with Mab F2F4 (green), shown to recognize CYB-3 (Michael, 2016), and DAPI, to illuminate the DNA (blue). Either wild type or par-4 mutant embryos were examined, after 24-hour incubation at 25C (the non-permissive temperature for the it47 allele of par-4). Anterior is to the left in all images. The data presented here reveals previously not shown data that depicts CYB-3 as asymmetrically distributed at the 4-cell stage. These data further support reported findings in Michael, 2016. There is more CYB-3 in the AB cell relative to its sister P1. In 4-cell embryos there is more CYB-3 in the EMS cell relative to its sister, P2. Thus, during P-lineage divisions, CYB-3 is asymmetrically distributed such that the somatic precursor receives more than its germline precursor sister cell. This asymmetry is abolished in par-4 mutant embryos, where all blastomeres contain equivalent amounts of CYB-3.

Vairoletti F et al. (2019) Medchemcomm "Synthesis of bicyclic 1,4-thiazepines as novel anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei agents."

Medeiros A, Fontan P, Jancik V, Melendrez J, Saiz C, Vairoletti F, Tabarez C, Mahler G, Franco J, Salinas G, Comini MA, Saldana J

[Medchemcomm, 2019]

1,4-Thiazepines derivatives are pharmacologically important heterocycles with different applications in medicinal chemistry. In the present work, we describe the preparation of new bicyclic thiazolidinyl-1,4-thiazepines <b>3</b> by reaction between azadithiane compounds and Michael acceptors. The reaction scope was explored and the yields were optimized. The activity of the new compounds was evaluated against <i>Nippostrongylus brasiliensis</i> and <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> as anthelmintic models and <i>Trypanosoma brucei brucei.</i> The most active compound was <b>3l</b>, showing an EC₅₀ = 2.8 +/- 0.7 M against <i>T. b. brucei</i> and a selectivity index &gt;71.

Kron M et al. (2000) Parasitol Today "Lymphatic filariasis in the Philippines."

Kron M, Libranda-Ramirez B, Hernandez L, Torres E, Walker E

[Parasitol Today, 2000]

Lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi is endemic throughout most of the southern half of the Philippine archipelago. Economic and manpower shortages prior to 1996 made it difficult to acquire new prevalence data and vector control data concurrently from all provinces. Nevertheless, analysis of cumulative prevalence data on filariasis indicates the persistence of filariasis in each of the three major island groups - Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao - including 45 out of 77 provinces. Here, Michael Kron and colleagues summarize the prevalence data, and review host, parasite and vector characteristics relevant to the design and implementation of disease control initiatives in the Philippines planned for the year 2000.

Mango S (2009) Curr Biol "Q&A: Susan Mango."

Mango S

[Curr Biol, 2009]

Susan Mango is Benning Professor of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and an Investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. She grew up in England and Washington D.C. before attending Harvard University. She received her Ph.D. from Princeton, where she studied the c-myc oncogene with Michael Cole. She was introduced to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a postdoc with Judith Kimble at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and moved to Utah in 1996 to start her own lab. After 13 years at the University of Utah, she will move to Harvard University in July 2009. Her principal focus is transcriptional strategies of organ development, using the C. elegans foregut as a model.

Roussell DL et al. (1994) Parasitol Today "Germ-line determination in Caenorhabditis and Ascaris: will a helicase begin to unravel the mystery?"

Bennett KL, Roussell DL, Gruidl ME

[Parasitol Today, 1994]

How cell lineages are established during development in higher eukaryotes is being addressed by geneticists and by developmental and molecular biologists. In Drosophila melanogaster, a gene corresponding to a germ-line-specific RNA helicase, vasa, has been shown to be a component o f the posteriorly localized germ granules o f the developing embryo. A putative RNA helicase, glh-I r which appears germ-line specific in its expression, has recently been reported from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Parasitologists studying the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides var. suum have found it to be a useful complement to Caenorhabditis. Deborah Roussell, Michael Gruidl and Karen Bennett predict that Ascaris will be valuable in determining the role played by germ-line helicases in development.