Genetic characterization of dhs-21 gene in C. elegans.

Abstract

The L-xylulose dehydrogenase enzyme interconverts L-xylulose into xylitol in several species. The dhs-21 gene is predicted to encode a short chain dehydrogenase reductase (SDR/XDR) in C.elegans. It has well-conserved functional domains of mammalian L-xylulose dehydrogenases. However, in vivo functions of L-xylulose dehydrogenase have not been largely elucidated.

We have isolated a deletion mutant of dhs-21 in C. elegans. The expression of transcriptional GFP fusion showed that DHS-21 is present in hypodermis, uterus and spermatheca. The dhs-21 (jh129) mutant exhibited various defects when compared to wild type (N2) worms such as decreased brood size, shorter life span, hypertonic resistance. We are currently characterizing the genetic pathways that may be regulated by dhs-21.