High impact information on lev-11

• Here we describe the molecular and functional characterization of another levamisole-resistant gene, unc-63, encoding a nAChR alpha subunit with a predicted amino acid sequence most similar to that of UNC-38 [1].
• The tropomyosin gene tmy-1/lev-11 of Caenorhabditis elegans spans 14.5 kb and encodes three isoforms by alternative splicing [2].
• The tmy-1 gene is located on the C. elegans genomic YAC grid near the right end of chromosome I, in the region on the lev-11 gene [3].
• Drugs such as levamisole are cholinergic agonists and, based on pharmacological studies, levamisole-resistant nematodes appear to have altered acetylcholine receptors [4].
• We present evidence that the mutation sites of lev-11 gene was in the tropomyosin gene, tmy-1 and that of pat-10 was in the troponin C gene, tnc-1, of the worm, respectively [5].

Anatomical context of lev-11

• LEV-11 (tropomyosin) regulates the spicules directly by controlling the male sex muscles and indirectly by controlling the pharyngeal muscles. lev-11-mediated suppression requires the pharyngeal NSM neurosecretory motor neurons; ablating these neurons in lev-11(rg1); unc-103(lf) males restores spontaneous spicule protraction [6].

Associations of lev-11 with chemical compounds

• The efficacy of an oral formulation of the newly developed parasiticide, moxidectin, was tested against benzimidazole-resistant Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Nematodirus spathiger, levamisole-resistant Ostertagia circumcincta, and susceptible Cooperia curticei infections in weaned lambs [7].

References