| Aspect | Key findings (1-3 bullets) | Evidence | URL/DOI | Pub date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| identity/domains | • **car-1** in **C. elegans** encodes an **LSM14/Rap55/Scd6-family** Sm-like RNA-binding protein. <br>• Protein features reported in primary literature include a **glycine-rich C-terminus with clustered RGG motifs/RGG box**; review literature notes **N-terminal Lsm domain** and RNA binding/poly(U) binding, consistent with UniProt family/domain assignment. <br>• Homology links CAR-1 to **RAP55, Trailer Hitch, Scd6** family proteins. | **Squirrell 2006** showed CAR-1 is a predicted 340-aa protein with clustered RGG motifs and homologs including RAP55, Scd6p/Lsm13p and Trailer Hitch; **Decker & Parker 2006** classified CAR-1 as a Scd6-family/Lsm protein with RNA-binding properties; **Tang 2020** explicitly identified CAR-1 as **CAR-1/LSM14**; **Vidya 2024** listed CAR-1 as **LSm14** (pqac-00000004, pqac-00000002, pqac-00000003, pqac-00000007). | https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e05-09-0874; https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200601153; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.061; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.04.583404 | Jan 2006; Apr 2006; Mar 2020; Mar 2024 |
| molecular function | • Functions primarily as an **RNA-associated translational repressor / mRNP assembly factor** rather than an enzyme. <br>• Acts with **CGH-1/DDX6** and can interface with **mRNA decapping machinery** (**DCAP-1/DCAP-2**), with context-dependent roles in either repressing translation and protecting mRNAs or promoting entry into decay pathways. <br>• Regulates specific targets, including **glp-1 mRNA** in oogenesis and **micu-1** in neurons. | **Noble 2008** showed CAR-1 promotes repression of **glp-1** during late oogenesis and that glp-1 mRNA levels can remain unchanged while GLP-1 protein rises after car-1 perturbation, supporting translational control; **Tang 2020** showed CAR-1 binds mature mRNAs with CGH-1, colocalizes with decapping factors, and represses neuronal **micu-1**; **Vidya 2024** reported CAR-1/CGH-1/IFET-1 complexes can repress translation and prevent decapping/decay in some developmental contexts while CAR-1 is also linked to higher-order decapping assemblies (pqac-00000011, pqac-00000015, pqac-00000008, pqac-00000012). | https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200802128; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.061; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.04.583404 | Aug 2008; Mar 2020; Mar 2024 |
| localization | • Localizes to **cytoplasmic RNA granules**, including **P-granules/germ granules** and **smaller DCAP-1-positive cytoplasmic foci/P-body-like granules**. <br>• Has functional/physical links to the **ER** in embryos; neuronal CAR-1 forms **cytoplasmic puncta** with CGH-1 and partly with DCAP-1. <br>• Recent imaging work supports CAR-1 as a regulated **condensate component** whose condensation increases under stress or oocyte arrest. | **Squirrell 2006** showed GFP::CAR-1 colocalizes with **PGL-1** in P-granules and with **DCAP-1** in cytoplasmic foci, and linked CAR-1 depletion to ER disorganization; figure evidence confirms CAR-1/DCAP-1 foci and ER defects (pqac-00000006, pqac-00000032). **Tang 2020** found neuronal CAR-1 puncta fully colocalize with CGH-1 and partially with DCAP-1 (pqac-00000008, pqac-00000010). **Elaswad 2022** quantified stress-induced CAR-1 condensation in germline/oocyte contexts (pqac-00000013). | https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e05-09-0874; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.061; https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac172 | Jan 2006; Mar 2020; Jul 2022 |
| biological processes | • Required for **late cytokinesis** and normal **ER organization** in embryos. <br>• Contributes to **maternal mRNA regulation/oogenesis**, including repression of **glp-1** and proper oocyte/embryo development. <br>• Also functions in **axon regeneration control** via mitochondrial calcium regulation and in **piRNA/transgenerational gene silencing** through condensate organization. | **Squirrell 2006** showed car-1 loss causes furrow regression, absent spindle midzone, and ER defects in embryos (pqac-00000004, pqac-00000005). **Noble 2008** linked CAR-1 to late-oogenesis repression of **glp-1** and strong genetic interactions with **puf-5** affecting oogenesis/embryogenesis (pqac-00000011, pqac-00000015). **Tang 2020** identified CAR-1 as a cell-intrinsic inhibitor of axon regrowth through repression of **micu-1** and modulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics (pqac-00000008, pqac-00000010). **Du 2023** showed CAR-1 promotes CGH-1 interactions with piRNA factors and supports transgenerational silencing-related condensate organization (pqac-00000018, pqac-00000020). | https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e05-09-0874; https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200802128; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.061; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112859 | Jan 2006; Aug 2008; Mar 2020; Aug 2023 |
| recent developments 2023-2024 | • **2023:** CAR-1 emerged as a key **P-body factor** organizing interactions between P-bodies and perinuclear germ granules to support **piRNA-dependent transgenerational silencing**. <br>• **2024:** CAR-1 was implicated in **embryonic mRNA clearance / P-body specialization** via interactions with **EDC-3/EDC-4** and the **IFET-1/CAR-1/CGH-1** complex. <br>• **2024:** Oogenesis work connected CAR-1 condensation to **ER morphology**, **CCT/actin**, and maintenance of translational repression/oocyte quality. | **Du 2023** showed car-1 RNAi disperses CGH-1 from perinuclear P bodies, reduces CGH-1 interactions with **PRG-1/WAGO-1**, and impairs piRNA reporter silencing (pqac-00000018, pqac-00000020). **Vidya 2024** showed EDC-3 promotes clearance of **car-1 mRNA** and that CAR-1 helps scaffold DCAP-2 condensates when EDC-3/EDC-4 are absent (pqac-00000024, pqac-00000025, pqac-00000028). **Elaswad 2024** linked CAR-1 ectopic condensation to CCT/actin depletion and expanded ER sheets during oogenesis (pqac-00000043, pqac-00000045, pqac-00000046). | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112859; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.04.583404; https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.e24-05-0216 | Aug 2023; Mar 2024; Oct 2024 |
| quantitative stats/data | • **Axon regeneration:** car-1(0) increased PLM axon regrowth/growth-cone formation; analyses used **n ≳100**, with **p < 0.01 to p < 0.001** depending on comparison. <br>• **Oogenesis/embryogenesis:** in **car-1; puf-5** perturbation, phenotype penetrance was high: **small oocytes 86% (n=36), yolk accumulation 84% (n=37), eggshell defects 90% (n=49), cytokinesis defects 98% (n=203)**. <br>• **Recent datasets:** car-1 RNAi reduced DCAP-2 foci **2- to 4.5-fold** in **edc-3(0);edc-4(0)** embryos; car-1/car-1 mRNA increased **~1.4-fold** in **edc-3(0)** and **~1.6-fold** in **edc-3(0);edc-4(0)**; imaging stress induced CAR-1 condensation in **40%** of worms at 11-20 min and **60-100%** after >30 min; CAR-1 K185R extended lifespan to **22.51 ± 0.60 d vs 14.70 ± 0.59 d** WT and car-1 loss shortened lifespan to **14.81 ± 0.41 d vs 17.56 ± 0.52 d** WT. | **Tang 2020** reported significant regeneration phenotypes with Fisher’s exact test / ANOVA and large sample sizes (pqac-00000008). **Noble 2008** provided penetrance/sample-size values for combined car-1/puf-5 phenotypes (pqac-00000011). **Vidya 2024** quantified CAR-1-dependent DCAP-2 foci reduction and car-1 mRNA increases in edc mutants (pqac-00000024, pqac-00000025). **Elaswad 2022** quantified stress-induced CAR-1 condensation frequencies (pqac-00000013). **Moll 2018** quantified lifespan and SUMOylation-linked CAR-1 effects (pqac-00000041, pqac-00000042). | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.12.061; https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200802128; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.04.583404; https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac172; https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.38635 | Mar 2020; Aug 2008; Mar 2024; Jul 2022; Nov 2018 |


*Table: This table summarizes evidence-based functional annotation for C. elegans car-1/LSM14 (UniProt Q9XW17), covering identity, molecular function, localization, biology, recent 2023-2024 developments, and quantitative findings. It is limited to claims directly supported by the provided context IDs.*