Human NPC1L1 and NPC1 can functionally substitute for the ncr genes to promote reproductive development in C. elegans.

The NPC1 and NPC1L1 are related genes whose general role is in cholesterol trafficking. However, reduction of activity of these genes results in very different phenotypes. Niemann-Pick C disease type 1 is a neurodegenerative disease with no current treatment, where cholesterol accumulates in lysosomes.

The Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the putative prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2, hoe-1, plays a role in germline proliferation.

The potential prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2 has a Caenorhabditis elegans homolog (which we call hoe-1, for homolog of ELAC2). We have explored the biological role of this gene using RNAi to reduce gene activity. We found that worms subjected to hoe-1 RNAi are slow-growing and sterile.