Sjm. Jones et Dl. Baillie, CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LET-653 GENE IN CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS, MGG. Molecular & general genetics, 248(6), 1995, pp. 719-726
A mutation in the let-653 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans results in la
rval death. The lethal arrest is concurrent with the appearance of a v
acuole anterior to the lower pharyngeal bulb. The position of the vacu
ole is consistent with a dysfunction of the secretory/excretory appara
tus. Germline transformation rescue experiments were able to position
the let-653 gene to two overlapping cosmid subclones. Sequence data ge
nerated from both cDNA and genomic DNA subclones indicated that let-65
3 encodes a mucin-like protein. Our characterization suggests that a m
ucin-like protein is essential for effective functioning of the secret
ory/excretory apparatus within C. elegans.