Abstract
SERCA (Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase), a membrane bound Ca 2+- /Mg 2+- dependent ATPase that sequesters Ca 2+ into the SR/ER lumen, is one of the essential components for the maintenance of intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis. Here we describe the identification and functional characterization of a C. elegans SERCA gene ( ser-1). ser-1 is a single gene alternatively spliced at its carboxyl terminus to form two isoforms (SER-1A and SER-1B) and displays a high homology (70% identity, 80% similarity) with mammalian SERCAs. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and whole-mount immunostaining analyses reveal that SER-1 expresses in neuronal cells, body-wall muscles, pharyngeal and vulval muscles, excretory cells, and vulva epithelial cells. Furthermore, SER-1::GFP expresses during embryonic stages and the expression is maintained through the adult stages. Double-stranded RNA injection (also known as RNAi) targeted to each SER-1 isoform results in severe phenotypic defects: ser-1A( RNAi) animals show embryonic lethality, whereas ser-1B( RNAi) results in L1 larval arrest phenotype. These findings suggest that both isoforms of C. elegans SERCA, like in mammals, are essential for embryonic development and post-embryonic growth and survival.
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