An LEA group 3 family member is involved in survival of C. elegans during exposure to stress

In order to establish a functional role for late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins in response to stress conditions in Caenorhabditis elegans, we silenced the expression of an LEA (Ce-lea-1) gene and determined the survival of worms under stress conditions. Ce-lea-1 transcription was induced during dehydration of C. elegans dauer juveniles. Following partial silencing of Ce-lea-1 transcription, we demonstrated a specific and significant reduction in worm survival during induction of desiccation, osmotic and heat stress. Together, these results establish a functional role for Ce-lea-1 in stress survival of C. elegans and suggest that Ce-lea-1 may function as a component that is common to the responses to the examined stress conditions.