Biosynthesis of the Caenorhabditis elegans dauer pheromone.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 106(6): 1875-9, 2009 Feb 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19174521
ABSTRACT
To sense its population density and to trigger entry into the stress-resistant dauer larval stage, Caenorhabditis elegans uses the dauer pheromone, which consists of ascaroside derivatives with short, fatty acid-like side chains. Although the dauer pheromone has been studied for 25 years, its biosynthesis is completely uncharacterized. The daf-22 mutant is the only known mutant defective in dauer pheromone production. Here, we show that daf-22 encodes a homolog of human sterol carrier protein SCPx, which catalyzes the final step in peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation. We also show that dhs-28, which encodes a homolog of the human d-bifunctional protein that acts just upstream of SCPx, is also required for pheromone production. Long-term daf-22 and dhs-28 cultures develop dauer-inducing activity by accumulating less active, long-chain fatty acid ascaroside derivatives. Thus, daf-22 and dhs-28 are required for the biosynthesis of the short-chain fatty acid-derived side chains of the dauer pheromone and link dauer pheromone production to metabolic state.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Feromônios
/
Caenorhabditis elegans
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos