bre-1 encodes one of two C. elegans GDP-mannose 4, 6-dehydratases; BRE-1 exhibits GDP-mannose dehydratase activity when expressed in vitro and thus, is predicted to function in vivo in the first step of the biosynthetic pathway that synthesizes GDP-fucose from GDP-mannose; bre-1 is required for toxicity to Cry5B, a Bacillus thurigensis delta-endotoxin, as mutant animals are defective for production of fucosylated glycolipids that act as a receptor for Cry5B; bre-1 mutant animals are also resistant to a fungal toxin Coprinopsis cinerea CGL2; bre-1 mutant animals demonstrate lack of fucosylated N- and O-glycans; bre-1 is expressed in larval and adult stages.
Enables GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase activity. Involved in GDP-L-fucose biosynthetic process; GDP-mannose metabolic process; and response to toxic substance. Located in endoplasmic reticulum; sarcomere; and striated muscle dense body. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in open-angle glaucoma. Is an ortholog of human GMDS (GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase).