Worm Breeder's Gazette 11(2): 33
These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.
We have previously described the isolation and initial characterization of a gene with amino acid sequence similarity to the src proto-oncogene (1989 CSH C. elegans Meeting p.247). In an attempt to determine a functional role for the src proto-oncogene we have studied the spatial and temporal expression of the gene product by indirect immunofluorescence using anti-C. elegans src antibodies. Embryonic labelling indicates that the src protein is associated with the plasma membrane and has the appearance of a 'honeycomb'. Staining appears only at cell-cell contacts and is initially seen in the embryo at completion of the first cell division. In addition, cortical staining of the gonad arm is observed which is similar to that reported by Strome using rhodamine-phalloidin to stain microfilaments ( J.C.B. 1986 103, p2241-2252). This suggests that the gene product may be incorporated into the membrane of the unfertilized oocyte. More intense staining is seen in the adult gonad, and although this is difficult to resolve, we believe this to be the spermatheca or sperm. Staining of L4 larvae or males should verify this. Association of the protein with the plasma membrane is consistent with that seen for the vertebrate homolog which is anchored to the membrane by myristylation of the N-terminal glycine residue. This glycine residue is conserved in the nematode protein. An interesting feature of vertebrate src expression is a neural specific alternate splicing event which introduces six additional amino acids into the src gene product. The presence of a mini-exon which may parallel this event in C. elegans has not been found. However, neuronal staining with the anti-src antibodies is observed in the nematode suggesting a possible role for src during neural development.