WDR-23 and SKN-1 Nrf2 coordinate with the BLI-3 dual oxidase in response to iodide-triggered oxidative stress

Excess iodide could lead to larve arrest to C. elegans, we screened for mutants that can survive in excess iodide and identified gain-of-function mutations in skn-1 and loss-of-function mutations in wdr-23 and bli-3. Genetic study uncover that wdr-23(lf) can interact with bli-3 mutations in a manner different from skn-1(gf). Transcriptome studies suggest that excess iodide causes developmental arrest largely independent of changes in gene expression, and wdr-23(lf) could affect the expression of a subset of genes by a mechanism different from SKN-1 activation. L1 mRNA profiles of wild type (WT), wdr-23(mac35lf) and skn-1(mac53gf) C. elegans with or without iodide treatment were generated in triplicate.