Endogenous expression and localization of CAV-1::GFP in C. elegans

Caveolins are integral membrane proteins responsible for the formation of caveolae, invaginations of the plasma membrane linked to various disease states (Parton et al. 2020). In C. elegans, there are two caveolin proteins, CAV-1 and CAV-2. The cav-1 gene shares homology with all three mammalian caveolin genes (Tang et al. 1997). C. elegans CAV-1 protein does not appear to form caveolae, but a double-knockout mutant of cav-1 and cav-2 affects egg laying, and knockdown of cav-1 affects locomotion in a dynamin mutant background (Parker et al. 2007, Kirkham et al. 2008, Sato et al. 2008). Based on exogenous expression, CAV-1::GFP is known to localize to cortical granules and the plasma membrane in oocytes and the early embryo, to the plasma membrane in later embryos, as well as to the neuromuscular system in larvae and adult worms (Sato et al. 2006, Bembenek et al. 2007, Parker et al. 2007).