UC San Diego

C. elegans strain VC2633 is described to contain the degt-1(ok3307) mutation. Here, we report the identification of a loss of function mutation in rpm-1 that is linked to degt-1(ok3307) in VC2633. In homozygous animals of degt-1(ok3307) derived from VC2633, we observed neuronal morphology defects that resemble rpm-1 loss of function. Based on complementation test with rpm-1 mutants, sanger sequencing of rpm-1 locus and genome editing, we verified a single nucleotide change designated rpm-1(ju1928) in degt-1(ok3307) chromosome in VC2633 and derivatives. This mutation alters a conserved Glutamine at amino acid 3089 to Histidine in RPM-1. We generated a new strain of degt-1(ok3307) without ju1928; the updated genotype of VC2633 strain is rpm-1(ju1928) degt-1(ok3307). While currently there are no reported binding partners for the region of RPM-1 containing Glu3089, the neuronal defects associated with the mutant RPM-1 suggest that this region may play roles in regulating RPM-1 activity.