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Genetic and molecular analysis of glo‐3 , a gene necessary for specialized lysosome biogenesis in C. elegans
Author(s) -
Rabbitts Beverley M.,
Miller Natalie E.,
Hermann Greg J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a493-b
Subject(s) - biogenesis , biology , lysosome , granule (geology) , microbiology and biotechnology , caenorhabditis elegans , organelle biogenesis , gene , membrane protein , model organism , genetics , biochemistry , membrane , enzyme , paleontology
C. elegans gut granules are a model system for studying specialized lysosome biogenesis during metazoan development. Gut granules are exclusively localized to intestinal cells and contain autofluorescent and birefringent material. We have identified a collection of Glo mutants that lack gut granules and/or mislocalize birefringent material to the embryonic intestinal lumen. Of the twelve Glo genes identified to date, many encode proteins with homologs already implicated in lysosome biogenesis in other organisms, including AP‐3 complex subunits, VPS proteins involved in lysosome membrane fusion, a RabGTPase, and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor. We present our studies on glo‐3 , a newly identified gene that is required for gut granule biogenesis. GLO‐3 is a membrane associated protein, localized to the gut granule membrane. glo‐3 is expressed almost exclusively in intestinal cells from early development, when gut granules appear, through adulthood. We will present genetic analyses aimed at investigating the function of GLO‐3. National Science Foundation MCB‐0314332.