Programmed collagen synthesis during postembryon development of the nematode <i>Panagrellus silusiae:</i> effect of transcription and translation inhibitors

Abstract

Abstract During postembryonic development of the free‐living nematode Panagrellus silusiae , collagen synthesis is temporally regulated with an increase in production occurring prior to each molt. Under certain conditions when actinomycin D treatment blocked both growth and ecdysis the programmed synthesis of collagen was not altered. Thus, the programming of postembryonic collagen synthesis is not perforce geared to either growth or ecdysis. Actinomycin D inhibits transcription by 70% in this organism when growth is completely blocked. Additional agents ( viz. , cordycepin and α‐amanitin) that are known to interfere with messenger RNA utilization and production in other systems disrupt the normal pattern of collagen synthesis and prevent both growth and ecdysis in Panagrellus. Each peak of collagen synthesis, therefore, requires new RNA synthesis, presumably messenger RNA. Two known inhibitors of translation (puromycin and cycloheximide) perturb the regulated pattern of collagen production as well as growth and ecdysis. We infer that the formation of a new cuticle at each molt is dependent upon de novo collagen synthesis during each intermolt period and that growth and ecdysis require ongoing translation throughout postembryonic development.