Figure 6.
MDT-15 is necessary for normal life span and animal health. (A) RNAi treatment of CF512 worms was initiated at distinct stages to compare the effect of nhr-49 RNAi (red) and mdt-15 RNAi (yellow) on whole-life (WL) life span with the effect of RNAi only during adulthood (adult-only, AO). Mean life spans (measured in days after reaching adulthood) were 16.6 ± 0.2 d for control(RNAi) worms (blue; n = 64), 12.8 ± 0.2 d for nhr-49 AO RNAi (red; n = 42), 11.8 ± 0.1 d for nhr-49 WL RNAi (red dotted; n = 50), 11.0 ± 0.1 d for mdt-15 AO RNAi (yellow; n = 86), and 7.9 ± 0.1 d for mdt-15 WL RNAi (yellow dotted; n = 76). (B) DIC micrographs (200× magnification) of N2 worms fed control RNAi or mdt-15 RNAi; mdt-15(RNAi) worms contained vacuoles (arrows) in the intestine and vulva (Vul) area. (Right panel) Dietary FAs (100 μM C20:5 and 100 μM C20:3n6) partially suppress these defects. (C) The WL life span of CF512 worms on control RNAi (blue) and mdt-15 RNAi (yellow) was determined on plates containing H2O or a combination of PUFAs (100 μM C20:5 and 100 μM C20:3n6), respectively. Mean life spans were 20.9 ± 0.5 d for control(RNAi) worms (blue; n = 43), 21.9 ± 0.3 d for control(RNAi) on PUFAs (blue dotted; n = 40), 9.0 ± 0.1 d for mdt-15(RNAi) worms (yellow; n = 59), and 10.5 ± 0.1 d for mdt-15(RNAi) worms on PUFAs (yellow dotted; n = 71).