The
daf-16(
m26);
unc-75(
e950) double mutant has an even higher sensitivity in the cadmium-induced lethality assay than either
daf-16(
m26) or
unc-75(
e950) alone. The synergistic effect on the heavy metal sensitivity of this
daf-16 unc-75 double mutant strain, with a 5- to 6-fold enhancement of sensitivity to cadmium over N2 and an LC50 value of 115.3 micromolar, suggests that
daf-16 and
unc-75 genes are probably acting in two independent genetic pathways or different biological processes. Thus, impairment of both pathways can synergize the sensitivity.