Abstract
Calreticulin (CRT), a Ca(2+)-binding protein known to have many cellular functions, including regulation of Ca(2+) homoeostasis and chaperone activity, is essential for heart and brain development during embryogenesis in mice. Here, we report the functional characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans calreticulin (crt-1). A crt-1 null mutant does not result in embryonic lethality but shows temperature-dependent reproduction defects. In C. elegans CRT-1 is expressed in the intestine, pharynx, body-wall muscles, head neurons, coelomocytes, and in sperm. crt-1 males exhibit reduced mating efficiency and defects late in sperm development in addition to defects in oocyte development and/or somatic gonad function in hermaphrodites. Furthermore, crt-1 and itr-1 (inositol triphosphate receptor) together are required for normal behavioral rhythms. crt-1 transcript level is elevated under stress conditions, suggesting that CRT-1 may be important for stress-induced chaperoning function in C. elegans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Northern
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Blotting, Western
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
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Calcium / metabolism*
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Calcium Channels / metabolism
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Calreticulin
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Fertility / genetics
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Gene Deletion
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Homeostasis
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Immunohistochemistry
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In Situ Hybridization
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Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
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Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
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Male
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Molecular Chaperones / genetics
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Molecular Chaperones / metabolism*
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Muscles / metabolism
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Pharynx / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
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Ribonucleoproteins / genetics
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Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism*
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Spermatozoa / metabolism
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Temperature
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Calcium Channels
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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Calreticulin
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Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
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Molecular Chaperones
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
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Ribonucleoproteins
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Calcium