Reverse genetic analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans 26S proteasome subunits by RNA interference

Reverse genetic analysis was performed on the Caenorhabditis elegans 26S proteasome subunit genes by doublestranded RNAmediated interference (RNAi). Embryonic and postembryonic lethality was caused by interference of all of the eight tested 20S core subunits and all of the 19S regulatory particle subunits except for CeRpn9, CeRpn10, and Ce Rpn12, where RNAi caused no abnormality. However, synthetic suppression of CeRpn10 and CeRpn12 was lethal, whereas neither the combination of Ce Rpn9 with CeRpn10 nor with CeRpn12 resulted in abnormalities in RNAi. These results indicate that the 26S proteasome is indispensable for embryogenesis and postembryonic development, although Ce Rpn9, CeRpn10, and CeRpn12 are not essential, at least under the conditions used. CeRpn10 and Ce Rpn12 are considered to compensate for the suppression of each other.