Abstract
We have molecularly analyzed three genes, sqv-3, sqv-7, and sqv-8, that are required for wild-type vulval invagination in Caenorhabditis elegans. The predicted SQV-8 protein is similar in sequence to two mammalian beta(1,3)-glucuronyltransferases, one of which adds glucuronic acid to protein-linked galactose-beta(1, 4)-N-acetylglucosamine. SQV-3 is similar to a family of glycosyltransferases that includes vertebrate beta(1, 4)-galactosyltransferases, which create galactose-beta(1, 4)-N-acetylglucosamine linkages. One model is therefore that SQV-8 uses a SQV-3 product as a substrate. SQV-7 is similar to members of a family of nucleotide-sugar transporters. The sqv genes therefore are likely to encode components of a conserved glycosylation pathway that assembles a C. elegans carbohydrate moiety, the absence of which perturbs vulval invagination.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
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Conserved Sequence
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Evolution, Molecular
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Female
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Genes, Helminth
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Glucuronosyltransferase / chemistry
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Glucuronosyltransferase / genetics
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Glycosylation
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Glycosyltransferases / chemistry
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Glycosyltransferases / genetics*
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Glycosyltransferases / metabolism
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Hexosyltransferases / chemistry
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Hexosyltransferases / genetics*
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Hexosyltransferases / metabolism
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Humans
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Lactose Synthase / chemistry
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Lactose Synthase / genetics
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Mammals
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutagenesis
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Phylogeny
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Restriction Mapping
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Sequence Alignment
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Vulva / physiology*
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Glycosyltransferases
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Hexosyltransferases
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SQV-3 protein, C elegans
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SQV-8 protein, C elegans
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Glucuronosyltransferase
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Lactose Synthase
Associated data
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GENBANK/AJ005864
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GENBANK/AJ005866
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GENBANK/AJ005867