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Zhang Y, Iino Y, Schafer WR. Behavioral plasticity. Genetics 2024:iyae105. [PMID: 39158469 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Behavioral plasticity allows animals to modulate their behavior based on experience and environmental conditions. Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits experience-dependent changes in its behavioral responses to various modalities of sensory cues, including odorants, salts, temperature, and mechanical stimulations. Most of these forms of behavioral plasticity, such as adaptation, habituation, associative learning, and imprinting, are shared with other animals. The C. elegans nervous system is considerably tractable for experimental studies-its function can be characterized and manipulated with molecular genetic methods, its activity can be visualized and analyzed with imaging approaches, and the connectivity of its relatively small number of neurons are well described. Therefore, C. elegans provides an opportunity to study molecular, neuronal, and circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral plasticity that are either conserved in other animals or unique to this species. These findings reveal insights into how the nervous system interacts with the environmental cues to generate behavioral changes with adaptive values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhang
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yuichi Iino
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 0QH, UK
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Tsai SH, Wu YC, Palomino DF, Schroeder FC, Pan CL. Peripheral peroxisomal β-oxidation engages neuronal serotonin signaling to drive stress-induced aversive memory in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113996. [PMID: 38520690 PMCID: PMC11087011 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Physiological dysfunction confers negative valence to coincidental sensory cues to induce the formation of aversive associative memory. How peripheral tissue stress engages neuromodulatory mechanisms to form aversive memory is poorly understood. Here, we show that in the nematode C. elegans, mitochondrial disruption induces aversive memory through peroxisomal β-oxidation genes in non-neural tissues, including pmp-4/very-long-chain fatty acid transporter, dhs-28/3-hydroxylacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and daf-22/3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Upregulation of peroxisomal β-oxidation genes under mitochondrial stress requires the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-49. Importantly, the memory-promoting function of peroxisomal β-oxidation is independent of its canonical role in pheromone production. Peripheral signals derived from the peroxisomes target NSM, a critical neuron for memory formation under stress, to upregulate serotonin synthesis and remodel evoked responses to sensory cues. Our genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic approaches establish peroxisomal lipid signaling as a crucial mechanism that connects peripheral mitochondrial stress to central serotonin neuromodulation in aversive memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Heng Tsai
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Diana Fajardo Palomino
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Chun-Liang Pan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
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McMillen A, Chew Y. Neural mechanisms of dopamine function in learning and memory in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neuronal Signal 2024; 8:NS20230057. [PMID: 38572143 PMCID: PMC10987485 DOI: 10.1042/ns20230057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Research into learning and memory over the past decades has revealed key neurotransmitters that regulate these processes, many of which are evolutionarily conserved across diverse species. The monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine is one example of this, with countless studies demonstrating its importance in regulating behavioural plasticity. However, dopaminergic neural networks in the mammalian brain consist of hundreds or thousands of neurons, and thus cannot be studied at the level of single neurons acting within defined neural circuits. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has an experimentally tractable nervous system with a completely characterized synaptic connectome. This makes it an advantageous system to undertake mechanistic studies into how dopamine encodes lasting yet flexible behavioural plasticity in the nervous system. In this review, we synthesize the research to date exploring the importance of dopaminergic signalling in learning, memory formation, and forgetting, focusing on research in C. elegans. We also explore the potential for dopamine-specific fluorescent biosensors in C. elegans to visualize dopaminergic neural circuits during learning and memory formation in real-time. We propose that the use of these sensors in C. elegans, in combination with optogenetic and other light-based approaches, will further illuminate the detailed spatiotemporal requirements for encoding behavioural plasticity in an accessible experimental system. Understanding the key molecules and circuit mechanisms that regulate learning and forgetting in more compact invertebrate nervous systems may reveal new druggable targets for enhancing memory storage and delaying memory loss in bigger brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna McMillen
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
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Yu Y, Xie D, Yang Y, Tan S, Li H, Dang Y, Xiang M, Chen H. Carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics induces neurotoxicity by affecting dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130543. [PMID: 36493651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in various environmental media and have potential toxicity. However, the neurotoxicity of carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-COOH) and their mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model to examine the neurotoxicity of polystyrene microplastic (PS) and PS-COOH concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/L. Locomotion behavior, neuron development, neurotransmitter level, and neurotransmitter-related gene expression were selected as assessment endpoints. Exposure to low concentrations (1 μg/L) of PS-COOH caused more severe neurotoxicity than exposure to pristine PS. In transgenic nematodes, exposure to PS-COOH at 10-100 μg/L significantly increased the fluorescence intensity of dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, and aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons compared to that of the control. Further studies showed that exposure to 100 μg/L PS-COOH can significantly affect the levels of glutamate, serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in nematodes. Likewise, in the present study, the expression of genes involved in neurotransmission was altered in worms. These results suggest that PS-COOH exerts neurotoxicity by affecting neurotransmission of dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA. This study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential risks associated with PS-COOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Dongli Xie
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China; College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Wanzhou 404100, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Xi 'an Jiaotong University Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi 'an 710004, China
| | - Shihui Tan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Yao Dang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Mingdeng Xiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Haibo Chen
- Institute for Environmental pollution and health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
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Fredj Z, Sawan M. Advanced Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Catecholamines Detection: Challenges and Trends. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:211. [PMID: 36831978 PMCID: PMC9953752 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Catecholamines, including dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, are considered one of the most crucial subgroups of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS), in which they act at the brain's highest levels of mental function and play key roles in neurological disorders. Accordingly, the analysis of such catecholamines in biological samples has shown a great interest in clinical and pharmaceutical importance toward the early diagnosis of neurological diseases such as Epilepsy, Parkinson, and Alzheimer diseases. As promising routes for the real-time monitoring of catecholamine neurotransmitters, optical and electrochemical biosensors have been widely adopted and perceived as a dramatically accelerating development in the last decade. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on the recent advances and main challenges in catecholamines biosensors. Particular emphasis is given to electrochemical biosensors, reviewing their sensing mechanism and the unique characteristics brought by the emergence of nanotechnology. Based on specific biosensors' performance metrics, multiple perspectives on the therapeutic use of nanomaterial for catecholamines analysis and future development trends are also summarized.
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Chen YJ, Pan CL. An olfactory-interneuron circuit that drives stress-induced avoidance behavior in C. elegans. Neurosci Res 2022; 191:91-97. [PMID: 36565857 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Physiological stress represents a drastic change of internal state and can drive avoidance behavior, but the neural circuits are incompletely defined. Here, we characterize a sensory-interneuron circuit for mitochondrial stress-induced avoidance behavior in C. elegans. The olfactory sensory neurons and the AIY interneuron are essential, with the olfactory neurons acting upstream of AIY. Unlike pathogen avoidance, stress-induced avoidance does not require AIB, AIZ or RIA interneurons. Ablation or inhibition of the head motor neurons SMDD/V alters the worm's locomotion and reduces avoidance. These findings substantiate our understanding of the circuit mechanisms that underlie learned avoidance behavior triggered by mitochondrial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ju Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Liang Pan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
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Liao CP, Chiang YC, Tam WH, Chen YJ, Chou SH, Pan CL. Neurophysiological basis of stress-induced aversive memory in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Biol 2022; 32:5309-5322.e6. [PMID: 36455561 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Physiological stress induces aversive memory formation and profoundly impacts animal behavior. In C. elegans, concurrent mitochondrial disruption induces aversion to the bacteria that the animal inherently prefers, offering an experimental paradigm for studying the neural basis of aversive memory. We find that, under mitochondrial stress, octopamine secreted from the RIC modulatory neuron targets the AIY interneuron through the SER-6 receptor to trigger learned bacterial aversion. RIC responds to systemic mitochondrial stress by increasing octopamine synthesis and acts in the formation of aversive memory. AIY integrates sensory information, acts downstream of RIC, and is important for the retrieval of aversive memory. Systemic mitochondrial dysfunction induces RIC responses to bacterial cues that parallel stress induction, suggesting that physiological stress activates latent communication between RIC and the sensory neurons. These findings provide insights into the circuit and neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying stress-induced aversive memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Po Liao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Chen Chiang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Wai Hou Tam
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ju Chen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hua Chou
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Liang Pan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Center for Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
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Pandey P, Kaur G, Babu K. Crosstalk between neurons and glia through G-protein coupled receptors: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 193:119-144. [PMID: 36357074 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The past decades have witnessed a dogmatic shift from glia as supporting cells in the nervous system to their active roles in neurocentric functions. Neurons and glia communicate and show bidirectional responses through tripartite synapses. Studies across species indicate that neurotransmitters released by neurons are perceived by glial receptors, which allow for gliotransmitter release. These gliotransmitters can result in activation of neurons via neuronal GPCR receptors. However, studies of these molecular interactions are in their infancy. Caenorhabditis elegans has a conserved neuron-glia architectural repertoire with molecular and functional resemblance to mammals. Further, glia in C. elegans can be manipulated through ablation and mutations allowing for deciphering of glial dependent processes in vivo at single glial resolutions. Here, we will review recent findings from vertebrate and invertebrate organisms with a focus on how C. elegans can be used to advance our understanding of neuron-glia interactions through GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Pandey
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, Punjab, India.
| | - Gazaldeep Kaur
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Kavita Babu
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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