The DAF-7/TGF-b pathway in C. elegans interprets environmental signals relayed through amphid neurons and actively inhibits dauer formation during reproductive developmental growth [1, 2]. In metazoans, the STAT pathway interprets external stimuli through regulated tyrosine phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and gene expression [3], but its importance for developmental commitment, particul...

In C. elegans development, unfavorable growth conditions lead a larva to an arrested and enduring form called a dauer. To elucidate components upstream of DAF-7/TGF-beta in this control pathway, we isolated a mutant that was defective in daf-7 promoter::gfp reporter expression and showed an arrested (dauer-constitutive) phenotype. It has a new mutation in the daf-11 gene encoding a transmembran...

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) has been previously described only in cells of bone marrow origin where it serves as a negative modulator of complement activation. Using mAb against human DAF, we demonstrated the presence of DAF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. By means of an immunoradiometric assay we detected an average of 3.3 X 10...

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and complement receptor 1-related gene/protein y (Crry) are two membrane-bound complement regulators on murine erythrocytes that inhibit C3/C5 convertases. Previously, we found that Crry- but not DAF-deficient erythrocytes were susceptible to alternative pathway complement-mediated elimination in vivo. To determine whether it is a unique activity or a higher leve...

Deficiency of decay-accelerating factor (DAF) occurs in blood cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), characterized by an unusual susceptibility to hemolysis by complement activation. This study examined DAF expression on hematopoietic progenitors from normal individuals and PNH patients using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) with monoclonal antibodies to DAF. Nonphagocyt...

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and complement receptor 1-related gene/protein y (Crry) are two membrane-anchored complement regulatory proteins in rodent. Although both proteins are broadly distributed and exert complement regulation at the same steps of the complement cascade, DAF knockout mice are viable whereas Crry knockout mice die in utero as a result of maternal complement attack. The l...

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) is a 70 kD membrane regulatory protein that prevents the activation of autologous complement on cell surfaces. Using immunohistochemical methods and a radioimmunometric assay based on mAbs to DAF, we found large amounts of membrane-associated DAF antigen on the epithelial surface of cornea, conjunctiva, oral and gastrointestinal mucosa, exocrine glands, renal tub...