Figure 5. Single Members of C. elegans Dynein Subunit Families Restore Embryonic Viability When Reduced in Function in dhc-1ts Mutants.

(A) Genes encoding putative dynein subunits were tested for suppression in the three dhc-1 backgrounds, as described in Figure 4. CHE-3 is a cytoplasmic dynein 2 HC required for retrograde transport in sensory neurons and B0365.7 encodes a highly diverged HC fragment of unknown function. The other genes are listed according to their subunit family [3].

(B) RNAi targeted towards the suppressing ACs results in variable embryonic lethality in wild-type worms. Wild-type L4 larvae were transferred to plates containing bacteria expressing the indicated dsRNAs. The observed percentage of hatching embryos is indicated.

(C) Reduction of dhc-1 or dyci-1 function with RNAi in L4 larvae does not suppress the embryonic lethality of dhc-1(or195) embryos, but dylt-1(RNAi) does suppress embryonic lethality.

(D) Codepletion of the dynein HC and dynein ACs does not result in suppression of embryonic lethality. L4 wild-type larvae were transferred to plates seeded with equal amounts of bacteria expressing dhc-1 dsRNA and dsRNA for the second gene listed. These results correspond to the first 24 h after transferring the worms to the RNAi plates; on the second day only dead embryos were produced with all of the conditions.

(E) Model of the cytoplasmic dynein protein with suppressor subunits and the DYCI-1 intermediate chain labeled [adapted from reference 33].