High impact information on Collagen

• Mutations in emb-9 cause temperature-sensitive lethality during late embryogenesis [1].
• We have identified single nucleotide alterations that substitute glutamic acid for glycine in the triple-helical Gly-X-Y repeat region of the alpha 1(IV) collagen in three emb-9 mutant strains [1].
• Type IV collagen in Caenorhabditis elegans is produced by two essential genes, emb-9 and let-2, which encode alpha1- and alpha2-like chains, respectively [2].
• Using an epitope-tagged emb-9 construct, we show that type IV collagen made in body wall muscle cells can assemble into the pharyngeal, intestinal, and gonadal basement membranes [2].
• We have characterized 11 mutations in emb-9, the alpha1(IV) collagen gene of Caenorhabditis elegans, that result in a spectrum of phenotypes [3].

Biological context of Collagen

• The embryonic lethal phenotype is similar to that seen in animals with mutations in the alpha 1(IV) collagen gene, emb-9 [4].
• We show that the C. elegans genes are located on separate chromosomes, clb-1 on X and clb-2 on III, demonstrating that the mammalian arrangement is not a requirement for all type IV collagen genes [5].

References