Molecular genetic analysis of apm-2 and aps-2, genes encoding the medium and small chains of the AP-2 clathrin-associated protein complex in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Mol Cells. 2000 Jun 30;10(3):309-16.

Abstract

In this report, we analyzed the apm-2 and aps-2 genes, which encode the nematode homologues of the medium chain and the small chain of the plasma membrane-associated clathrin-associated protein complex AP-2, respectively. We determined the genomic structure of the two genes. We show that apm-2 and aps-2 genes are expressed in most, if not all, cells during embryogenesis, and that the two genes are expressed primarily in neurons and some hypodermal cells following hatching through adulthood. RNA interference experiments showed that the reduction of either apm-2 or aps-2 gene function causes embryonic lethality, larval lethality at various stages of development, and other morphological defects in the larval stages. These results indicate that apm-2 and aps-2 gene functions are required during both embryogenesis and larval stages, and that their functions may be required in proper neuronal functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / anatomy & histology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology
  • Clathrin / genetics
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Helminth Proteins / chemistry
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics*
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism
  • Microinjections
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Plasmids
  • RNA, Helminth / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Clathrin
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Helminth