Figure 6 Post-embryonic developmental defects of C. elegans mutants deficient in dauer pheromone biosynthesis(A) The expression profile of mRNA level measured by qRT-PCR of
dhs-28 and
daf-22 genes in each stage of N2 worms. Values represent means +/- S.D. from three independent measurements. (B) Developmental growth rate (time of development from egg to adult) of N2,
dhs-28(
tm2581) and
daf-22(
ok693) . Worms were grown from synchronized eggs at 20C and the number of worms at each developmental stage was counted at 72 h. The total number of worms used in each group is shown at the top of the Figure (see Table S4 for statistical analysis). The results were from three independent experimental sets. (C) The body length (filled squares) and body width (white squares) of N2,
dhs-28(
tm2581),
daf-22(
ok693) and double mutants,
dhs-28(
tm2581);
daf-22(
ok693), measured in 20 young adults of each strain. Values represent means +/- S.E.M. (D) Brood size of N2,
dhs-28(
tm2581) and
daf-22(
ok693). Egg production from eight worms was monitored for 7 days. Values represent means +/- S.D. (E) Adult lifespan of
dhs-28(
tm2581),
daf-22(
ok693) and
dhs-28(
tm2581);
daf-22(
ok693) grown in NGM. Mean lifespan +/- S.D. (n = worm number) was: N2, 21.4 +/- 1 (n = 84);
dhs-28(
tm2581) , 14.2 +/- 0.5 (n = 78);
daf-22(
ok693) , 17.3 +/- 0.9 (n = 87);
dhs-28(
tm2581);
daf-22(
ok693) , 15.8 +/- 0.5 (n = 74). Maximum lifespan +/- SD (n = number of worms) was N2, 30.3 +/- 0.7 (n = 84);
dhs-28(
tm2581) , 22.3 +/- 1.8 (n = 78);
daf-22(
ok693) , 22.3 +/- 1.3 (n = 87);
dhs-28(
tm2581);
daf-22(
ok693) , 21.0 +/- 1.2 (n = 77). P values compared with N2 were: 0.0003 for
dhs-28(
tm2581) , 0.0063 for
daf-22(
ok693), and 0.0015 for
dhs-28(
tm2581);
daf-22(
ok693). For each data point in Figure 6, P values were derived from t test.