High impact information on unc-93

• To understand better the role of unc-93 in regulating muscle contraction, we have cloned and molecularly characterized this gene [1].
• Two unc-93 proteins differing at their NH2 termini are potentially encoded by transcripts that differ at their 5' ends [1].
• By contrast, null alleles cause no visibly abnormal phenotype, presumably as a consequence of the functional redundancy of unc-93 [1].
• We discuss possible roles for the unc-93 protein either as a component of an ion transport system involved in excitation-contraction coupling in muscle or in coordinating muscle contraction between muscle cells by affecting the functioning of gap junctions [1].
• The existence of rubber-band mutations in sup-9, sup-10 and unc-93 and the suppression of these mutations by null mutations in any of these three genes suggest that these proteins are required at the same step in muscle contraction [2].

Biological context of unc-93

• We propose that the genetic properties of the unc-93 locus, including the spontaneous reversion of the e1500 mutation, indicate that unc-93 may be a member of a multigene family [3].

Other interactions of unc-93

• Genes such as unc-93, sup-9 and sup-10 may be useful for genetic manipulations, including the generation of deficiencies and mutagen testing [3].

References