Identification of a nuclear carbonic anhydrase in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background: Carbonic anhydrases (CA) catalyze the inter-conversion of CO(2) with HCO(3) and H(+), and are involved in a wide variety of physiologic processes such as anion transport, pH regulation, and water balance. In mammals there are sixteen members of the classical α-type CA family, while the simple genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans codes for six αCA isoforms (cah-1 through cah-6).

Methods: Fluorescent reporter constructs were used to analyze gene promoter usage, splice variation, and protein localization in transgenic worms.

pat-4/ILK and unc-112/Mig-2 are required for gonad function in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Tissue morphogenesis requires proper interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is mediated by alphabeta heterodimeric receptor integrin. In Caenorhabditis elegans, integrin signaling is essential for formation of gonad. Here, we probe the role of several integrin-associated molecules in ovulation and cell migration.