[
International Worm Meeting,
2007]
The nematode cuticle is a proteinacous extracellular matrix (ECM). It acts as a protective barrier from the environment, exhibits selective permeability and directly opposes the longitudinal body wall muscles allowing movement to occur. ZC328.1 is a nematode-specific tetraspan protein. We have shown that this protein is essential for the correct formation of the cuticle. A reduction in ZC328.1 expression by RNAi affects all aspects of cuticle function, including permeability and morphology. In addition, reporter fusions show that ZC328.1 is expressed in the epithelia where it appears to be closely associated with the cuticle. RT-PCR analysis reveals that the temporal expression of ZC328.1 mRNA cycles and peaks prior to each larval molt. Further, a knockdown in expression of ZC328.1 transcript results in changes in the expression of several cuticle collagens and genes involved in cuticle formation and function. Yeast two-hybrid results suggest that it may act to mediate the fusion of vesicles or vesicle-like structures carrying ECM components to the apical membrane of epithelia. In addition, it may have a more structural role, where it acts to stabilise the apical membrane, thereby allowing correct cuticle formation to occur. Further investigation is required to identify the precise role of ZC328.1 in cuticle formation.