Figure 3. REGE-1 Is a Putative RNase Expressed in the Intestine(A) Schematic view of Regnase-1/Zc3h12a/MCPIP1 and REGE-1 proteins, with the conserved domains indicated. The deletion allele of
rege-1,
rege-1(
rrr13), results in a truncated protein missing the RNase domain.(B) The fat-loss phenotype of animals subjected torege-1 RNAi is also observed in
rege-1(
rrr13) mutants, and is rescued by a transgenic GFP-tagged REGE-1. Fat levels were quantified with oil red O staining. Fifteen to twenty animals were measured per genotype.(C) Partial view of representative live animals, eithernot expressing (upper animal) or expressing (lower animal) the rescuing REGE-1::GFP. To reduce gutspecific autofluorescence, the animals carried the
glo-1(
zu391) mutation (Hermann et al., 2005). The pharynx and intestines are outlined, and arrowheads point to the REGE-1::GFP-expressing intestinal cells adjacent to the pharynx. Scale bar, 50 um.(D) Homology model of the C. elegans REGE-1 RNase domain (surface representation), in two orientations, rotated around a vertical axis by 180. Highly conserved residues computed by ConSurf(Glaser et al., 2003) are colored in red and orange (ConSurf color grades 9 and 8). Predicted active site (asterisk) and residues required for the RNase activity in the mammalian proteins are indicated. The numbers represent amino acid numbers in the C. elegans REGE-1 or, in parentheses, the humanRegnase-1.