bli-4 was originally identified by a single viable allele,
e937, which results in blistering of the adult cuticle. Our laboratory has since shown that
bli-4 is an essential gene that encodes at least four serine endoproteinases that belong to the
kex2/subtilisin-like (kexin) family of proprotein convertases (1).
e937 is a 3250 bp deletion that results in loss of expression of one
bli-4 isoform called blisterase A. In order to understand the role of
bli-4 we have been trying to identify genes that may encode potential substrates. Candidates include several Dpy genes that are suppressors of blistering.
dpy-5 is a dominant suppressor of the blistered allele
e937 (2), suggesting that DPY-5 may be a substrate for BLI-4. Heidi Browning in Susan Strome's laboratory has been able to rescue
dpy-5 using the cosmid B0342 (3). Thanks to data generated by the genome sequencing consortium we were able to examine the corresponding genomic sequence for predicted gene products that contain the Arg-X-X-Arg cleavage motif that is recognized by members of the kexin family. One candidate, F27C1.8, encodes a cuticle collagen composed of 284 amino acids. We sequenced the F27C1.8 coding region from three
dpy-5 mutant strains including
e61 and two alleles isolated in Dave Baillie's laboratory, and found lesions for all three mutants. The
e61 and
s102 mutations are lesions at the same nucleotide in which a glycine codon (Gly202) of a typical collagen Gly-X-Y motif is changed to an opal stop codon, which would lead to the loss of 81 carboxy-terminal amino acids. The nonsense mutation is consistent with the demonstration by Hodgkin and colleagues that
e61 is smg- suppressible (4). The allele
s111 is the result of a 54 bp deletion within the run of Gly-X-Y motifs yet leaves the protein in-frame. Interestingly,
s111 homozygotes are not as severely Dpy as other
dpy-5 mutants examined, suggesting that the truncated protein is not as disruptive to the normal morphology of the animal as compared to other
dpy-5 mutations. The 32P induced mutation
e907 is a deletion that completely removes the cuticle collagen gene and flanking sequences. The most severe Dpy-5 phenotype is caused by
e565: homozygotes are slow growing and smaller than all other
dpy-5 mutant animals. Although we have not fully characterized
e565, it appears that the molecular lesion is an intragenic insertion. Based on the sequencing of the mutations, we have shown that
dpy-5 (F27C1.8) encodes a cuticle collagen.
dpy-13 is also a dominant suppressor of
e937 (2), and like
dpy-5 encodes a cuticle collagen which contains the Arg-X-X-Arg cleavage motif (5). These data are compatible with the proposal that blisterase A processing activity is required for the production or maintenance of the adult cuticle. (1). Thacker et al., (1995) Genes Dev. 9: 956-971. (2). Peters et al., (1991) Genetics 129: 95-102. (3). Browning et al., (1996) Genetics 144: 609-619 (4). Hodgkin et al., (1989) Genetics 123: 301-313 (5). von Mende et al., (1988) Cell 55: 567-576.