Characterization of morphological and biochemical defects in the cuticle of a dumpy mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

1. 1. In this paper, we describe morphological and biochemical cuticle defects in a dumpy mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans. 2. 2. This mutant, FF31, exhibits major alterations in internal cuticle architecture when compared to the wild-type strain. 3. 3. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the soluble cuticle proteins of this mutant also reveals differences when compared to the proteins of the wild-type. 4. 4. To minimize the possibility that the morphological and biochemical defects are caused by different mutations, we have isolated a revertant strain, FF102, with normal body shape after EMS mutagenesis on FF31 larvae and we have shown that the morphological and biochemical defects revert as well. 5. 5. This suggests that all the modifications displayed by this mutant are the result of a single mutation. © 1985.