COLLAGEN AND GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS OF ADULT AND DAUER FORMS OF CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS

Collagen and glycosaminoglycans were identified in the cuticle of adul t and dauer forms of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans u sing cytochemical techniques. A polyclonal antibody against a syntheti c 18 amino-acid peptide that corresponds to the sequence of domain E o f the Haemonchus contortus 3A3 collagen gene labeled all cuticular lay ers of the adult form of C. elegans. Otherwise, a light labeling was o bserved on dauer larva cuticle. Only the cortical region of the cuticl e of the L(1) stage was labeled. These observations confirm previous b iochemical studies on the collagen composition on the various developm ent stages of C. elegans. An anti-chondroitin sulfate monoclonal antib ody labeled the cortical layers of adult and dauer cuticle. Otherwise, biochemical analysis showed the presence of a glycosaminoglycan in C. elegans which was sensitive to chondroitinase ABC digestion but diffe red somewhat from the known vertebrate glycosaminoglycans by its elect rophoretic mobility.