1
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Liu CC, Khan A, Seban N, Littlejohn N, Shah A, Srinivasan S. A homeostatic gut-to-brain insulin antagonist restrains neuronally stimulated fat loss. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6869. [PMID: 39127676 PMCID: PMC11316803 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51077-3] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In C. elegans mechanisms by which peripheral organs relay internal state information to the nervous system remain unknown, although strong evidence suggests that such signals do exist. Here we report the discovery of a peptide of the ancestral insulin superfamily called INS-7 that functions as an enteroendocrine peptide and is secreted from specialized cells of the intestine. INS-7 secretion is stimulated by food withdrawal, increases during fasting and acts as a bona fide gut-to-brain peptide that attenuates the release of a neuropeptide that drives fat loss in the periphery. Thus, INS-7 functions as a homeostatic signal from the intestine that gates the neuronal drive to stimulate fat loss during food shortage. Mechanistically, INS-7 functions as an antagonist at the canonical DAF-2 receptor and functions via FOXO and AMPK signaling in ASI neurons. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that INS-7 bears greater resemblance to members of the broad insulin/relaxin superfamily than to conventional mammalian insulin and IGF peptides. The discovery of an endogenous insulin antagonist secreted by specialized intestinal cells with enteroendocrine functions suggests unexpected and important properties of the intestine and its role in directing neuronal functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Chih Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ayub Khan
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Seban
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nicole Littlejohn
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Aayushi Shah
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Supriya Srinivasan
- Department of Neuroscience and Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA.
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2
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Nawrocka WI, Cheng S, Hao B, Rosen MC, Cortés E, Baltrusaitis EE, Aziz Z, Kovács IA, Özkan E. Nematode Extracellular Protein Interactome Expands Connections between Signaling Pathways. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602367. [PMID: 39026773 PMCID: PMC11257444 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Multicellularity was accompanied by the emergence of new classes of cell surface and secreted proteins. The nematode C. elegans is a favorable model to study cell surface interactomes, given its well-defined and stereotyped cell types and intercellular contacts. Here we report our C. elegans extracellular interactome dataset, the largest yet for an invertebrate. Most of these interactions were unknown, despite recent datasets for flies and humans, as our collection contains a larger selection of protein families. We uncover new interactions for all four major axon guidance pathways, including ectodomain interactions between three of the pathways. We demonstrate that a protein family known to maintain axon locations are secreted receptors for insulins. We reveal novel interactions of cystine-knot proteins with putative signaling receptors, which may extend the study of neurotrophins and growth-factor-mediated functions to nematodes. Finally, our dataset provides insights into human disease mechanisms and how extracellular interactions may help establish connectomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wioletta I. Nawrocka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shouqiang Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Bingjie Hao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Matthew C. Rosen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Elena Cortés
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Elana E. Baltrusaitis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Zainab Aziz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - István A. Kovács
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Engin Özkan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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3
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Horikawa M, Fukuyama M, Antebi A, Mizunuma M. Regulatory mechanism of cold-inducible diapause in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5793. [PMID: 38987256 PMCID: PMC11237089 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50111-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Temperature is a critical environmental cue that controls the development and lifespan of many animal species; however, mechanisms underlying low-temperature adaptation are poorly understood. Here, we describe cold-inducible diapause (CID), another type of diapause induced by low temperatures in Caenorhabditis elegans. A premature stop codon in heat shock factor 1 (hsf-1) triggers entry into CID at 9 °C, whereas wild-type animals enter CID at 4 °C. Furthermore, both wild-type and hsf-1(sy441) mutant animals undergoing CID can survive for weeks, and resume growth at 20 °C. Using epistasis analysis, we demonstrate that neural signalling pathways, namely tyraminergic and neuromedin U signalling, regulate entry into CID of the hsf-1 mutant. Overexpression of anti-ageing genes, such as hsf-1, XBP1/xbp-1, FOXO/daf-16, Nrf2/skn-1, and TFEB/hlh-30, also inhibits CID entry of the hsf-1 mutant. Based on these findings, we hypothesise that regulators of the hsf-1 mutant CID may impact longevity, and successfully isolate 16 long-lived mutants among 49 non-CID mutants via genetic screening. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the nonsense mutation of MED23/sur-2 prevents CID entry of the hsf-1(sy441) mutant and extends lifespan. Thus, CID is a powerful model to investigate neural networks involving cold acclimation and to explore new ageing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Horikawa
- Unit of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Masamitsu Fukuyama
- Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Adam Antebi
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Masaki Mizunuma
- Unit of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
- Hiroshima Research Center for Healthy Aging (HiHA), Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.
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4
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Rodrigues DT, Padilha HA, Soares ATG, de Souza MEO, Guerra MT, Ávila DS. The Caenorhabditis elegans neuroendocrine system and their modulators: An overview. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 586:112191. [PMID: 38382589 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In this review we seek to systematically bring what has been published in the literature about the nervous system, endocrine system, neuroendocrine relationships, neuroendocrine modulations and endocrine disruptors in the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. The serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitters are related to the modulation of the neuroendocrine axis, leading to the activation or inhibition of several processes that occur in the worm through distinct and interconnected pathways. Furthermore, this review addresses the gut-neuronal axis as it has been revealed in recent years that gut microbiota impacts on neuronal functions. This review also approaches xenobiotics that can positively or negatively impact the neuroendocrine system in C. elegans as in mammals, which allows the application of this nematode to screen new drugs and to identify toxicants that are endocrine disruptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Teixeira Rodrigues
- Graduation Program in Biological Sciences- Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Daiana Silva Ávila
- Graduation Program in Biological Sciences- Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Graduation Program in Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
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5
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Zhu R, Chin-Sang ID. C. elegans insulin-like peptides. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 585:112173. [PMID: 38346555 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Insulin-like peptides are a group of hormones crucial for regulating metabolism, growth, and development in animals. Invertebrates, such as C. elegans, have been instrumental in understanding the molecular mechanisms of insulin-like peptides. Here, we review the 40 insulin-like peptide genes encoded in the C. elegans genome. Despite the large number, there is only one C. elegans insulin-like peptide receptor, called DAF-2. The insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway is evolutionarily conserved from worms to humans. Thus C. elegans provides an excellent model to understand how these insulin-like peptides function. C. elegans is unique in that it possesses insulin-like peptides that have antagonistic properties, unlike all human insulin-like peptides, which are agonists. This review provides an overview of the current literature on C. elegans insulin-like peptide structures, processing, tissue localization, and regulation. We will also provide examples of insulin-like peptide signaling in C. elegans during growth, development, germline development, learning/memory, and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rain Zhu
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston ON Canada
| | - Ian D Chin-Sang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston ON Canada.
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6
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Istiban MN, De Fruyt N, Kenis S, Beets I. Evolutionary conserved peptide and glycoprotein hormone-like neuroendocrine systems in C. elegans. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 584:112162. [PMID: 38290646 PMCID: PMC11004728 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Peptides and protein hormones form the largest group of secreted signals that mediate intercellular communication and are central regulators of physiology and behavior in all animals. Phylogenetic analyses and biochemical identifications of peptide-receptor systems reveal a broad evolutionary conservation of these signaling systems at the molecular level. Substantial progress has been made in recent years on characterizing the physiological and putative ancestral roles of many peptide systems through comparative studies in invertebrate models. Several peptides and protein hormones are not only molecularly conserved but also have conserved roles across animal phyla. Here, we focus on functional insights gained in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that, with its compact and well-described nervous system, provides a powerful model to dissect neuroendocrine signaling networks involved in the control of physiology and behavior. We summarize recent discoveries on the evolutionary conservation and knowledge on the functions of peptide and protein hormone systems in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majdulin Nabil Istiban
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan De Fruyt
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Signe Kenis
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Beets
- Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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7
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TAKEUCHI S, ALI MS, TANIMOTO Y, KAGE-NAKADAI E. Lactococcus kimchii extends lifespan and alleviates motility decline in Caenorhabditis elegans through ins-20, an insulin-like peptide gene. BIOSCIENCE OF MICROBIOTA, FOOD AND HEALTH 2024; 43:267-274. [PMID: 38966057 PMCID: PMC11220334 DOI: 10.12938/bmfh.2023-091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Lactococcus kimchii is isolated from commercial kimchi, which is a traditional Korean fermented food. This study was conducted to evaluate the probiotic effects of L. kimchii. Caenorhabditis elegans was fed L. kimchii, and its longevity, motility, and gene expression were examined. When fed a 1:1 mixture of Escherichia coli OP50 and L. kimchii (OP+LK), C. elegans had a significantly longer lifespan and increased locomotion than when it was fed OP alone. There was no significant difference in brood size between the OP+LK and OP groups, suggesting that these effects occurred in a dietary restriction-independent manner. RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology analysis showed that the expression of ins-20, an insulin-like peptide and agonist of the insulin receptor, was significantly upregulated in the OP+LK group. The ins-20 mutation annulled the effects of OP+LK on lifespan extension and motility. In addition, OP+LK failed to extend the lifespan of C. elegans deficient in daf-2, a receptor for the insulin-like signaling pathway. These results suggest that L. kimchii extends the lifespan and alleviates motility decline in C. elegans through the insulin signaling pathway, highlighting the potential of using L. kimchii as a beneficial bacterium for probiotics and postbiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shino TAKEUCHI
- Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology, Osaka Metropolitan
University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Mohammad Shaokat ALI
- Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University,
3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka-shi 558-8585, Japan
- Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Chattogram Veterinary
and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
| | - Yoshihiko TANIMOTO
- Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology, Osaka Metropolitan
University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kobe Institute of Health,
Hyogo 650-0046, Japan
| | - Eriko KAGE-NAKADAI
- Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology, Osaka Metropolitan
University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
- Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University,
3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka-shi 558-8585, Japan
- Present address: Institute for Life and Medical Sciences,
Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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8
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Veuthey T, Giunti S, De Rosa MJ, Alkema M, Rayes D. The neurohormone tyramine stimulates the secretion of an Insulin-Like Peptide from the intestine to modulate the systemic stress response in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579207. [PMID: 38370834 PMCID: PMC10871264 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The DAF-2/insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway plays an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating reproductive development, lifespan, and stress resistance. In C. elegans , DAF-2/IIS signaling is modulated by an extensive array of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) with diverse spatial and temporal expression patterns. However, the release dynamics and specific functions of these ILPs in adapting to different environmental conditions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the ILP, INS-3, plays a crucial role in modulating the response to different types of stressors in C. elegans . ins-3 mutants display increased resistance to both heat and oxidative stress; however, under favorable conditions, this advantage is countered by slower reproductive development. ins-3 expression in both neurons and the intestine is downregulated in response to environmental stressors. Conversely, the neurohormone tyramine, which is released during the acute flight response, triggers an upregulation in ins-3 expression. Moreover, we found that tyramine negatively impacts environmental stress resistance by stimulating the release of INS-3 from the intestine. The subsequent release of INS-3 systemically activates the DAF-2 pathway, resulting in the inhibition of cytoprotective mechanisms mediated by DAF-16/FOXO and HSF-1. These studies offer mechanistic insights into the brain-gut communication pathway that weighs adaptive strategies to respond to acute and long-term stress scenarios.
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9
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Van Bael S, Ludwig C, Baggerman G, Temmerman L. Identification and Targeted Quantification of Endogenous Neuropeptides in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Using Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2758:341-373. [PMID: 38549024 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3646-6_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans lends itself as an excellent model organism for peptidomics studies. Its ease of cultivation and quick generation time make it suitable for high-throughput studies. The nervous system, with its 302 neurons, is probably the best-known and studied endocrine tissue. Moreover, its neuropeptidergic signaling pathways display numerous similarities with those observed in other metazoans. Here, we describe two label-free approaches for neuropeptidomics in C. elegans: one for discovery purposes, and another for targeted quantification and comparisons of neuropeptide levels between different samples. Starting from a detailed peptide extraction procedure, we here outline the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) setup and describe subsequent data analysis approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Van Bael
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christina Ludwig
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Center for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
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10
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Liu CC, Khan A, Seban N, Littlejohn N, Srinivasan S. A homeostatic gut-to-brain insulin antagonist restrains neuronally stimulated fat loss. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563330. [PMID: 37961386 PMCID: PMC10634694 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
In C. elegans mechanisms by which peripheral organs relay internal state information to the nervous system remain unknown, although strong evidence suggests that such signals do exist. Here we report the discovery of a peptide of the ancestral insulin superfamily called INS-7 that functions as an enteroendocrine peptide and is secreted from specialized cells of the intestine. INS-7 secretion increases during fasting, and acts as a bona fide gut-to-brain homeostatic signal that attenuates neuronally induced fat loss during food shortage. INS-7 functions as an antagonist at the canonical DAF-2 receptor in the nervous system, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that INS-7 bears greater resemblance to members of the broad insulin/relaxin superfamily than to conventional mammalian insulin and IGF peptides. The discovery of an endogenous insulin antagonist secreted by specialized intestinal cell with enteroendocrine functions suggests that much remains to be learned about the intestine and its role in directing neuronal functions.
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11
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Abstract
Nutrient intake is obligatory for animal growth and development, but nutrients alone are not sufficient. Indeed, insulin and homologous hormones are required for normal growth even in the presence of nutrients. These hormones communicate nutrient status between organs, allowing animals to coordinate growth and metabolism with nutrient supply. Insulin and related hormones, such as insulin-like growth factors and insulin-like peptides, play important roles in development and metabolism, with defects in insulin production and signaling leading to hyperglycemia and diabetes. Here, we describe the insulin hormone family and the signal transduction pathways activated by these hormones. We highlight the roles of insulin signaling in coordinating maternal and fetal metabolism and growth during pregnancy, and we describe how secretion of insulin is regulated at different life stages. Additionally, we discuss the roles of insulin signaling in cell growth, stem cell proliferation and cell differentiation. We provide examples of the role of insulin in development across multiple model organisms: Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, mouse and human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Suzawa
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Michelle L. Bland
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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12
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Mahapatra A, Dhakal A, Noguchi A, Vadlamani P, Hundley HA. ADAR-mediated regulation of PQM-1 expression in neurons impacts gene expression throughout C. elegans and regulates survival from hypoxia. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002150. [PMID: 37747897 PMCID: PMC10553819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to alter gene expression programs in response to changes in environmental conditions is central to the ability of an organism to thrive. For most organisms, the nervous system serves as the master regulator in communicating information about the animal's surroundings to other tissues. The information relay centers on signaling pathways that cue transcription factors in a given cell type to execute a specific gene expression program, but also provide a means to signal between tissues. The transcription factor PQM-1 is an important mediator of the insulin signaling pathway contributing to longevity and the stress response as well as impacting survival from hypoxia. Herein, we reveal a novel mechanism for regulating PQM-1 expression specifically in neural cells of larval animals. Our studies reveal that the RNA-binding protein (RBP), ADR-1, binds to pqm-1 mRNA in neural cells. This binding is regulated by the presence of a second RBP, ADR-2, which when absent leads to reduced expression of both pqm-1 and downstream PQM-1 activated genes. Interestingly, we find that neural pqm-1 expression is sufficient to impact gene expression throughout the animal and affect survival from hypoxia, phenotypes that we also observe in adr mutant animals. Together, these studies reveal an important posttranscriptional gene regulatory mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans that allows the nervous system to sense and respond to environmental conditions to promote organismal survival from hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Mahapatra
- Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alfa Dhakal
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine–Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Aika Noguchi
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Pranathi Vadlamani
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine–Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Heather A. Hundley
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
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13
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Martinez BA, Gill MS. The C. elegans truncated insulin receptor DAF-2B regulates survival of L1 arrested larvae. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288764. [PMID: 37471418 PMCID: PMC10358897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously characterized a truncated isoform of the C. elegans insulin-like receptor, DAF-2B, which retains the ligand binding domain but cannot transduce a signal due to the absence of the intracellular signaling domain. DAF-2B modifies insulin / insulin-like growth factor signaling-dependent processes, such as dauer formation and lifespan, by sequestering insulin-like peptides (ILP) and preventing signaling through full length DAF-2 receptors. Here we show that DAF-2B is also important for starvation resistance, as genetic loss of daf-2b reduces survival in arrested first stage larvae (L1). Under fed conditions, we observe daf-2b splicing capacity in both the intestine and the hypodermis, but in starved L1s this becomes predominantly hypodermal. Using a novel splicing reporter system, we observe an increase in the ratio of truncated to full length insulin receptor splicing capacity in starved L1 larvae compared with fed, that may indicate a decrease in whole body insulin responsiveness. Consistent with this, overexpression of DAF-2B from the hypodermis, but not the intestine, confers increased survival to L1 animals under starvation conditions. Our findings demonstrate that the truncated insulin receptor DAF-2B is involved in the response to L1 starvation and promotes survival when expressed from the hypodermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A. Martinez
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Matthew S. Gill
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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14
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Liu T, Zhuang Z, Wang D. Paeoniflorin mitigates high glucose-induced lifespan reduction by inhibiting insulin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1202379. [PMID: 37405055 PMCID: PMC10315627 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1202379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In organisms, high glucose can cause several aspects of toxicity, including the lifespan reduction. Paeoniflorin is the major component of Paeoniaceae plants. Nevertheless, the possible effect of paeoniflorin to suppress high glucose toxicity in reducing lifespan and underlying mechanism are largely unclear. Thus, in this study, we examined the possible effect of paeoniflorin in suppressing high glucose (50 mM)-induced lifespan reduction and the underlying mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans. Administration with 16-64 mg/L paeoniflorin could prolong the lifespan in glucose treated nematodes. Accompanied with this beneficial effect, in glucose treated nematodes, expressions of daf-2 encoding insulin receptor and its downstream kinase genes (age-1, akt-1, and akt-2) were decreased and expression of daf-16 encoding FOXO transcriptional factor was increased by 16-64 mg/L paeoniflorin administration. Meanwhile, the effect of paeoniflorin in extending lifespan in glucose treated nematodes was enhanced by RNAi of daf-2, age-1, akt-1, and akt-2 and inhibited by RNAi of daf-16. In glucose treated nematodes followed by paeoniflorin administration, the increased lifespan caused by daf-2 RNAi could be suppressed by RNAi of daf-16, suggesting that DAF-2 acted upstream of DAF-16 to regulate pharmacological effect of paeoniflorin. Moreover, in glucose treated nematodes followed by paeoniflorin administration, expression of sod-3 encoding mitochondrial Mn-SOD was inhibited by daf-16 RNAi, and the effect of paeoniflorin in extending lifespan in glucose treated nematodes could be suppressed by sod-3 RNAi. Molecular docking analysis indicated the binding potential of paeoniflorin with DAF-2, AGE-1, AKT-1, and AKT-2. Therefore, our results demonstrated the beneficial effect of paeoniflorin administration in inhibiting glucose-induced lifespan reduction by suppressing signaling cascade of DAF-2-AGE-1-AKT-1/2-DAF-16-SOD-3 in insulin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwen Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Life Science, Changzhou University, Changzhou, China
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziheng Zhuang
- School of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Life Science, Changzhou University, Changzhou, China
| | - Dayong Wang
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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15
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Mahapatra A, Dhakal A, Noguchi A, Vadlamani P, Hundley HA. ADARs employ a neural-specific mechanism to regulate PQM-1 expression and survival from hypoxia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.05.539519. [PMID: 37205482 PMCID: PMC10187282 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.05.539519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The ability to alter gene expression programs in response to changes in environmental conditions is central to the ability of an organism to thrive. For most organisms, the nervous system serves as the master regulator in communicating information about the animal's surroundings to other tissues. The information relay centers on signaling pathways that cue transcription factors in a given cell type to execute a specific gene expression program, but also provide a means to signal between tissues. The transcription factor PQM-1 is an important mediator of the insulin signaling pathway contributing to longevity and the stress response as well as impacting survival from hypoxia. Herein, we reveal a novel mechanism for regulating PQM-1 expression specifically in neural cells of larval animals. Our studies reveal that the RNA binding protein, ADR-1, binds to pqm-1 mRNA in neural cells. This binding is regulated by the presence of a second RNA binding protein, ADR-2, which when absent leads to reduced expression of both pqm-1 and downstream PQM-1 activated genes. Interestingly, we find that neural pqm-1 expression is sufficient to impact gene expression throughout the animal and affect survival from hypoxia; phenotypes that we also observe in adr mutant animals. Together, these studies reveal an important post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism that allows the nervous system to sense and respond to environmental conditions to promote organismal survival from hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Mahapatra
- Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University, Bloomington IN, 47405 USA
| | - Alfa Dhakal
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine – Bloomington, Bloomington IN, 47405 USA
| | - Aika Noguchi
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405 USA
| | - Pranathi Vadlamani
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine – Bloomington, Bloomington IN, 47405 USA
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16
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Quesnelle DC, Huang C, Boudreau JR, Lam A, Paw J, Bendena WG, Chin-Sang ID. C. elegans vab-6 encodes a KIF3A kinesin and functions cell non-autonomously to regulate epidermal morphogenesis. Dev Biol 2023; 497:33-41. [PMID: 36893881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Cells undergo strict regulation to develop their shape in a process called morphogenesis. Caenorhabditis elegans with mutations in the variable abnormal (vab) class of genes have been shown to display epidermal and neuronal morphological defects. While several vab genes have been well-characterized, the function of the vab-6 gene remains unknown. Here, we show that vab-6 is synonymous with a subunit of the kinesin-II heterotrimeric motor complex called klp-20/Kif3a, a motor well-understood to be involved in developing sensory cilia in the nervous system. We show that certain klp-20 alleles cause animals to develop a bumpy body phenotype that is variable but most severe in mutants containing single amino-acid substitutions in the catalytic head-domain sites of the protein. Surprisingly, animals carrying a klp-20 null allele do not show the bumpy epidermal phenotype suggesting genetic redundancy and only when mutant versions of the KLP-20 protein are present, the epidermal phenotype is observed. The bumpy epidermal phenotype was not observed in other kinesin-2 mutants, suggesting that KLP-20 is functioning independently from its role in intraflagellar transport (IFT) during ciliogenesis. Interestingly, despite having such a prominent epidermal phenotype, KLP-20 is not expressed in the epidermis, strongly suggesting a cell non-autonomous role in which it regulates epidermal morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cindy Huang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Annie Lam
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Jadine Paw
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ian D Chin-Sang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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17
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Application of Caenorhabditis elegans in Lipid Metabolism Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021173. [PMID: 36674689 PMCID: PMC9860639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the development and prevalence of obesity have posed a serious public health risk, which has prompted studies on the regulation of adiposity. With the ease of genetic manipulation, the diversity of the methods for characterizing body fat levels, and the observability of feeding behavior, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is considered an excellent model for exploring energy homeostasis and the regulation of the cellular fat storage. In addition, the homology with mammals in the genes related to the lipid metabolism allows many aspects of lipid modulation by the regulators of the central nervous system to be conserved in this ideal model organism. In recent years, as the complex network of genes that maintain an energy balance has been gradually expanded and refined, the regulatory mechanisms of lipid storage have become clearer. Furthermore, the development of methods and devices to assess the lipid levels has become a powerful tool for studies in lipid droplet biology and the regulation of the nematode lipid metabolism. Herein, based on the rapid progress of C. elegans lipid metabolism-related studies, this review outlined the lipid metabolic processes, the major signaling pathways of fat storage regulation, and the primary experimental methods to assess the lipid content in nematodes. Therefore, this model system holds great promise for facilitating the understanding, management, and therapies of human obesity and other metabolism-related diseases.
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18
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Paloma Álvarez-Rendón J, Manuel Murillo-Maldonado J, Rafael Riesgo-Escovar J. The insulin signaling pathway a century after its discovery: Sexual dimorphism in insulin signaling. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114146. [PMID: 36270337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Since practically a century ago, the insulin pathway was discovered in both vertebrates and invertebrates, implying an evolutionarily ancient origin. After a century of research, it is now clear that the insulin signal transduction pathway is a critical, flexible and pleiotropic pathway, evolving into multiple anabolic functions besides glucose homeostasis. It regulates paramount aspects of organismal well-being like growth, longevity, intermediate metabolism, and reproduction. Part of this diversification has been attained by duplications and divergence of both ligands and receptors riding on a common general signal transduction system. One of the aspects that is strikingly different is its usage in reproduction, particularly in male versus female development and fertility within the same species. This review highlights sexual divergence in metabolism and reproductive tract differences, the occurrence of sexually "exaggerated" traits, and sex size differences that are due to the sexes' differential activity/response to the insulin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Paloma Álvarez-Rendón
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Murillo-Maldonado
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Rafael Riesgo-Escovar
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
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19
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Segref A, Vakkayil KL, Padvitski T, Li Q, Kroef V, Lormann J, Körner L, Finger F, Hoppe T. Thermosensation in Caenorhabditis elegans is linked to ubiquitin-dependent protein turnover via insulin and calcineurin signalling. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5874. [PMID: 36198694 PMCID: PMC9534930 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33467-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Organismal physiology and survival are influenced by environmental conditions and linked to protein quality control. Proteome integrity is achieved by maintaining an intricate balance between protein folding and degradation. In Caenorhabditis elegans, acute heat stress determines cell non-autonomous regulation of chaperone levels. However, how the perception of environmental changes, including physiological temperature, affects protein degradation remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that loss-of-function of dyf-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans associated with dysfunctional sensory neurons leads to defects in both temperature perception and thermal adaptation of the ubiquitin/proteasome system centered on thermosensory AFD neurons. Impaired perception of moderate temperature changes worsens ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in intestinal cells. Brain-gut communication regulating protein turnover is mediated by upregulation of the insulin-like peptide INS-5 and inhibition of the calcineurin-regulated forkhead-box transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO. Our data indicate that perception of ambient temperature and its neuronal integration is important for the control of proteome integrity in complex organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Segref
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany.
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Kavya L Vakkayil
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tsimafei Padvitski
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Qiaochu Li
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Virginia Kroef
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jakob Lormann
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lioba Körner
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fabian Finger
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thorsten Hoppe
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674, Cologne, Germany.
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
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20
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Laugesen SH, Chou DHC, Safavi-Hemami H. Unconventional insulins from predators and pathogens. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:688-697. [PMID: 35761080 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01068-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Insulin and its related peptides are found throughout the animal kingdom, in which they serve diverse functions. This includes regulation of glucose homeostasis, neuronal development and cognition. The surprising recent discovery that venomous snails evolved specialized insulins to capture fish demonstrated the nefarious use of this hormone in nature. Because of their streamlined role in predation, these repurposed insulins exhibit unique characteristics that have unraveled new aspects of the chemical ecology and structural biology of this important hormone. Recently, insulins were also reported in other venomous predators and pathogenic viruses, demonstrating the broader use of insulin by one organism to manipulate the physiology of another. In this Review, we provide an overview of the discovery and biomedical application of repurposed insulins and other hormones found in nature and highlight several unique insights gained from these unusual compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Helena Safavi-Hemami
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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21
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Chen J, Tang LY, Powell ME, Jordan JM, Baugh LR. Genetic analysis of daf-18/PTEN missense mutants for starvation resistance and developmental regulation during Caenorhabditis elegans L1 arrest. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac092. [PMID: 35451480 PMCID: PMC9157142 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the well-known tumor suppressor PTEN are observed in many cancers. PTEN is a dual-specificity phosphatase that harbors lipid and protein-phosphatase activities. The Caenorhabditis elegans PTEN ortholog is daf-18, which has pleiotropic effects on dauer formation, aging, starvation resistance, and development. Function of 3 daf-18 point-mutants, G174E, D137A, and C169S, had previously been investigated using high-copy transgenes in a daf-18 null background. These alleles were generated based on their mammalian counterparts and were treated as though they specifically disrupt lipid or protein-phosphatase activity, or both, respectively. Here, we investigated these alleles using genome editing of endogenous daf-18. We assayed 3 traits relevant to L1 starvation resistance, and we show that each point mutant is essentially as starvation-sensitive as a daf-18 null mutant. Furthermore, we show that G174E and D137A do not complement each other, suggesting overlapping effects on lipid and protein-phosphatase activity. We also show that each allele has strong effects on nucleocytoplasmic localization of DAF-16/FoxO and dauer formation, both of which are regulated by PI3K signaling, similar to a daf-18 null allele. In addition, each allele also disrupts M-cell quiescence during L1 starvation, though D137A has a weaker effect than the other alleles, including the null. Our results confirm that daf-18/PTEN is important for promoting starvation resistance and developmental arrest and that it is a potent regulator of PI3K signaling, and they highlight challenges of using genetic analysis to link specific DAF-18/PTEN enzymatic activities to particular phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxian Chen
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Linda Y Tang
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Maya E Powell
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - James M Jordan
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - L Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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22
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Invited review: Unearthing the mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative disease using Caenorhabditis elegans. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 267:111166. [PMID: 35176489 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111166] [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: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As human life expectancy increases, neurodegenerative diseases present a growing public health threat, for which there are currently few effective treatments. There is an urgent need to understand the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these disorders so new therapeutic targets can be identified. Here we present the argument that the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful tool to rapidly study neurodegenerative disorders due to their short lifespan and vast array of genetic tools, which can be combined with characterization of conserved neuronal processes and behavior orthologous to those disrupted in human disease. We review how pre-existing C. elegans models provide insight into human neurological disease as well as an overview of current tools available to study neurodegenerative diseases in the worm, with an emphasis on genetics and behavior. We also discuss open questions that C. elegans may be particularly well suited for in future studies and how worms will be a valuable preclinical model to better understand these devastating neurological disorders.
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23
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Matty MA, Lau HE, Haley JA, Singh A, Chakraborty A, Kono K, Reddy KC, Hansen M, Chalasani SH. Intestine-to-neuronal signaling alters risk-taking behaviors in food-deprived Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010178. [PMID: 35511794 PMCID: PMC9070953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals integrate changes in external and internal environments to generate behavior. While neural circuits detecting external cues have been mapped, less is known about how internal states like hunger are integrated into behavioral outputs. Here, we use the nematode C. elegans to examine how changes in internal nutritional status affect chemosensory behaviors. We show that acute food deprivation leads to a reversible decline in repellent, but not attractant, sensitivity. This behavioral change requires two conserved transcription factors MML-1 (MondoA) and HLH-30 (TFEB), both of which translocate from the intestinal nuclei to the cytoplasm during food deprivation. Next, we identify the insulin-like peptide INS-31 as a candidate ligand relaying food-status signals from the intestine to other tissues. Further, we show that neurons likely use the DAF-2 insulin receptor and AGE-1/PI-3 Kinase, but not DAF-16/FOXO to integrate these intestine-released peptides. Altogether, our study shows how internal food status signals are integrated by transcription factors and intestine-neuron signaling to generate flexible behaviors via the gut-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly A. Matty
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Hiu E. Lau
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Haley
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Anupama Singh
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ahana Chakraborty
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Karina Kono
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Kirthi C. Reddy
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Malene Hansen
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sreekanth H. Chalasani
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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24
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Qu Z, Zhang L, Huang W, Zheng S. Vitamin K2 Enhances Fat Degradation to Improve the Survival of C. elegans. Front Nutr 2022; 9:858481. [PMID: 35495953 PMCID: PMC9051363 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.858481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The beneficial effects of vitamin K (VK) on various chronic age-related syndromes have generally been considered dependent on its antioxidant effects. However, due to the distinct bioavailability and biological activities of VKs, exactly which of these activities and by what mechanisms they might act still need to be elucidated. In this study, we found that VK2 can extend the lifespan of C. elegans and improve the resistance to pathogen infection, heat stress and H2O2-induced inner oxidative stress. Importantly, the roles of VK2 on aging and stress resistance were shown to be dependent on enhanced fat metabolism and not due to its antioxidant effects. Moreover, the genes related to fat metabolism that were up-regulated following VK2 treatment play key roles in improving survival. Obesity is a leading risk factor for developing T2DM, and taking VKs has been previously considered to improve the insulin sensitivity associated with obesity and T2DM risk. However, our results showed that VK2 can significantly influence the expression of genes related to fat metabolism, including those that regulate fatty acid elongation, desaturation, and synthesis of fatty acid-CoA. VK2 enhanced the fatty acid β-oxidation activity in peroxisome to degrade and digest fatty acid-CoA. Our study implies that VK2 can enhance fat degradation and digestion to improve survival, supporting the effectiveness of VK2-based medical treatments. VK2 is mainly produced by gut bacteria, suggesting that VK2 might facilitate communication between the gut microbiota and the host intestinal cells to influence fat metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Qu
- Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Shanqing Zheng
- Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Centre for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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25
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Athar F, Templeman NM. C. elegans as a model organism to study female reproductive health. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 266:111152. [PMID: 35032657 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Female reproductive health has been historically understudied and underfunded. Here, we present the advantages of using a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as an animal system to study fundamental aspects of female reproductive health. C. elegans is a powerful high-throughput model organism that shares key genetic and physiological similarities with humans. In this review, we highlight areas of pressing medical and biological importance in the 21st century within the context of female reproductive health. These include the decline in female reproductive capacity with increasing chronological age, reproductive dysfunction arising from toxic environmental insults, and cancers of the reproductive system. C. elegans has been instrumental in uncovering mechanistic insights underlying these processes, and has been valuable for developing and testing therapeutics to combat them. Adopting a convenient model organism such as C. elegans for studying reproductive health will encourage further research into this field, and broaden opportunities for making advancements into evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faria Athar
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Nicole M Templeman
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
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26
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Huygens C, Ribeiro Lopes M, Gaget K, Duport G, Peignier S, De Groef S, Parisot N, Calevro F, Callaerts P. Evolutionary diversification of insulin-related peptides (IRPs) in aphids and spatiotemporal distribution in Acyrthosiphon pisum. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 141:103670. [PMID: 34666188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Members of the insulin superfamily activate the evolutionarily highly conserved insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway, involved in regulation of growth, energy homeostasis, and longevity. In the current study we focus on aphids to gain more insight into the evolution of the IRPs and how they may contribute to regulation of the insulin-signaling pathway. Using the latest annotation of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome, and combining sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses, we identified seven putative IRP encoding-genes, with IRP1-IRP4 resembling the classical insulin and insulin-like protein structures, and IRP5 and IRP6 bearing insulin-like growth factor (IGF) features. We also identified IRP11 as a new and structurally divergent IRP present in at least eight aphid genomes. Globally the ten aphid genomes analyzed in this work contain four to 15 IRPs, while only three IRPs were found in the genome of the grape phylloxera, a hemipteran insect representing an earlier evolutionary branch of the aphid group. Expression analyses revealed spatial and temporal variation in the expression patterns of the different A. pisum IRPs. IRP1 and IRP4 are expressed throughout all developmental stages and morphs in neuroendocrine cells of the brain, while IRP5 and IRP6 are expressed in the fat body. IRP2 is expressed in specific cells of the gut in aphids in non-crowded conditions and in the head of aphids under crowded conditions, IRP3 in salivary glands, and both IRP2 and IRP3 in the male morph. IRP11 expression is enriched in the carcass. This complex spatiotemporal expression pattern suggests functional diversification of the IRPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Huygens
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium; Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - M Ribeiro Lopes
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - K Gaget
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - G Duport
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - S Peignier
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - S De Groef
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - N Parisot
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - F Calevro
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - P Callaerts
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Mitchell ML, Hossain MA, Lin F, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Peigneur S, Wai DCC, Delaine C, Blyth AJ, Forbes BE, Tytgat J, Wade JD, Norton RS. Identification, Synthesis, Conformation and Activity of an Insulin-like Peptide from a Sea Anemone. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1785. [PMID: 34944429 PMCID: PMC8698791 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of insulin and insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in vertebrate animals is well studied. Numerous ILPs are also found in invertebrates, although there is uncertainty as to the function and role of many of these peptides. We have identified transcripts with similarity to the insulin family in the tentacle transcriptomes of the sea anemone Oulactis sp. (Actiniaria: Actiniidae). The translated transcripts showed that these insulin-like peptides have highly conserved A- and B-chains among individuals of this species, as well as other Anthozoa. An Oulactis sp. ILP sequence (IlO1_i1) was synthesized using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis of the individual chains, followed by regioselective disulfide bond formation of the intra-A and two interchain disulfide bonds. Bioactivity studies of IlO1_i1 were conducted on human insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors, and on voltage-gated potassium, sodium, and calcium channels. IlO1_i1 did not bind to the insulin or insulin-like growth factor receptors, but showed weak activity against KV1.2, 1.3, 3.1, and 11.1 (hERG) channels, as well as NaV1.4 channels. Further functional studies are required to determine the role of this peptide in the sea anemone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela L. Mitchell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Sciences Department, Museum Victoria, G.P.O. Box 666, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- Biodiversity and Geosciences, Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3000, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Feng Lin
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
| | - Ernesto L. Pinheiro-Junior
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - Dorothy C. C. Wai
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Carlie Delaine
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Andrew J. Blyth
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Briony E. Forbes
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; (C.D.); (A.J.B.); (B.E.F.)
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, O&N 2, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 922, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (E.L.P.-J.); (S.P.); (J.T.)
| | - John D. Wade
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (M.A.H.); (F.L.); (J.D.W.)
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Raymond S. Norton
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- ARC Centre for Fragment-Based Design, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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daf-16/FOXO blocks adult cell fate in Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae via lin-41/TRIM71. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009881. [PMID: 34780472 PMCID: PMC8629381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many tissue-specific stem cells maintain the ability to produce multiple cell types during long periods of non-division, or quiescence. FOXO transcription factors promote quiescence and stem cell maintenance, but the mechanisms by which FOXO proteins promote multipotency during quiescence are still emerging. The single FOXO ortholog in C. elegans, daf-16, promotes entry into a quiescent and stress-resistant larval stage called dauer in response to adverse environmental cues. During dauer, stem and progenitor cells maintain or re-establish multipotency to allow normal development to resume after dauer. We find that during dauer, daf-16/FOXO prevents epidermal stem cells (seam cells) from prematurely adopting differentiated, adult characteristics. In particular, dauer larvae that lack daf-16 misexpress collagens that are normally adult-enriched. Using col-19p::gfp as an adult cell fate marker, we find that all major daf-16 isoforms contribute to opposing col-19p::gfp expression during dauer. By contrast, daf-16(0) larvae that undergo non-dauer development do not misexpress col-19p::gfp. Adult cell fate and the timing of col-19p::gfp expression are regulated by the heterochronic gene network, including lin-41 and lin-29. lin-41 encodes an RNA-binding protein orthologous to LIN41/TRIM71 in mammals, and lin-29 encodes a conserved zinc finger transcription factor. In non-dauer development, lin-41 opposes adult cell fate by inhibiting the translation of lin-29, which directly activates col-19 transcription and promotes adult cell fate. We find that during dauer, lin-41 blocks col-19p::gfp expression, but surprisingly, lin-29 is not required in this context. Additionally, daf-16 promotes the expression of lin-41 in dauer larvae. The col-19p::gfp misexpression phenotype observed in dauer larvae with reduced daf-16 requires the downregulation of lin-41, but does not require lin-29. Taken together, this work demonstrates a novel role for daf-16/FOXO as a heterochronic gene that promotes expression of lin-41/TRIM71 to contribute to multipotent cell fate in a quiescent stem cell model. In adults and juveniles, tissue-specific stem cells divide as needed to replace cells that are lost due to injury or normal wear and tear. Many stem cells spend long periods of time in cellular quiescence, or non-division. During quiescence, stem cells remain multipotent, where they retain the ability to produce all cell types within their tissue. In this study, we define a new role for the FOXO protein DAF-16 in promoting multipotency during the quiescent C. elegans dauer larva stage. C. elegans larvae enter dauer midway through development in response to adverse environmental conditions. Epidermal stem cells are multipotent in C. elegans larvae but differentiate at adulthood, a process controlled by the “heterochronic” genes. We found that daf-16 blocks the expression of adult cell fate specifically in dauer larvae by promoting the expression of the heterochronic gene lin-41. lin-41 normally blocks adult fate by repressing the expression of another heterochronic gene, lin-29, but surprisingly, lin-29 is not needed for the expression of adult cell fate in this context. These findings may be relevant to mammals where the orthologs of daf-16 and lin-41 are important in stem cell maintenance and opposing differentiation.
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Pujol N, Ewbank JJ. C. elegans: out on an evolutionary limb. Immunogenetics 2021; 74:63-73. [PMID: 34761293 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-021-01231-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The natural environment of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is rich in pathogenic microbes. There is now ample evidence to indicate that these pathogens exert a strong selection pressure on C. elegans, and have shaped its genome, physiology, and behaviour. In this short review, we concentrate on how C. elegans stands out from other animals in terms of its immune repertoire and innate immune signalling pathways. We discuss how C. elegans often detects pathogens because of their effects on essential cellular processes, or organelle integrity, in addition to direct microbial recognition. We illustrate the extensive molecular plasticity that is characteristic of immune defences in C. elegans and highlight some remarkable instances of lineage-specific innovation in innate immune mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
| | - Jonathan J Ewbank
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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30
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Biglou SG, Bendena WG, Chin-Sang I. An overview of the insulin signaling pathway in model organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Peptides 2021; 145:170640. [PMID: 34450203 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved pathway across metazoans and is required for development, metabolism and behavior. This pathway is associated with various human metabolic disorders and cancers. Thus, model organisms including Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans provide excellent opportunities to examine the structure and function of this pathway and its influence on cellular metabolism and proliferation. In this review, we will provide an overview of human insulin and the human insulin signaling pathway and explore the recent discoveries in model organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Our review will provide information regarding the various insulin-like peptides in model organisms as well as the conserved functions of insulin signaling pathways. Further investigation of the insulin signaling pathway in model organisms could provide a promising opportunity to develop novel therapies for various metabolic disorders and insulin-mediated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz G Biglou
- Department of Biology, Queen's University Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada
| | - William G Bendena
- Department of Biology, Queen's University Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada.
| | - Ian Chin-Sang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University Kingston, ON, K7L3N6, Canada
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Vlaar LE, Bertran A, Rahimi M, Dong L, Kammenga JE, Helder J, Goverse A, Bouwmeester HJ. On the role of dauer in the adaptation of nematodes to a parasitic lifestyle. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:554. [PMID: 34706780 PMCID: PMC8555053 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04953-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematodes are presumably the most abundant Metazoa on Earth, and can even be found in some of the most hostile environments of our planet. Various types of hypobiosis evolved to adapt their life cycles to such harsh environmental conditions. The five most distal major clades of the phylum Nematoda (Clades 8-12), formerly referred to as the Secernentea, contain many economically relevant parasitic nematodes. In this group, a special type of hypobiosis, dauer, has evolved. The dauer signalling pathway, which culminates in the biosynthesis of dafachronic acid (DA), is intensively studied in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and it has been hypothesized that the dauer stage may have been a prerequisite for the evolution of a wide range of parasitic lifestyles among other nematode species. Biosynthesis of DA is not specific for hypobiosis, but if it results in exit of the hypobiotic state, it is one of the main criteria to define certain behaviour as dauer. Within Clades 9 and 10, the involvement of DA has been validated experimentally, and dauer is therefore generally accepted to occur in those clades. However, for other clades, such as Clade 12, this has hardly been explored. In this review, we provide clarity on the nomenclature associated with hypobiosis and dauer across different nematological subfields. We discuss evidence for dauer-like stages in Clades 8 to 12 and support this with a meta-analysis of available genomic data. Furthermore, we discuss indications for a simplified dauer signalling pathway in parasitic nematodes. Finally, we zoom in on the host cues that induce exit from the hypobiotic stage and introduce two hypotheses on how these signals might feed into the dauer signalling pathway for plant-parasitic nematodes. With this work, we contribute to the deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying hypobiosis in parasitic nematodes. Based on this, novel strategies for the control of parasitic nematodes can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke E Vlaar
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andre Bertran
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mehran Rahimi
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lemeng Dong
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan E Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Helder
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aska Goverse
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Clark JF, Ciccarelli EJ, Kayastha P, Ranepura G, Yamamoto KK, Hasan MS, Madaan U, Meléndez A, Savage-Dunn C. BMP pathway regulation of insulin signaling components promotes lipid storage in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009836. [PMID: 34634043 PMCID: PMC8530300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A small number of peptide growth factor ligands are used repeatedly in development and homeostasis to drive programs of cell differentiation and function. Cells and tissues must integrate inputs from these diverse signals correctly, while failure to do so leads to pathology, reduced fitness, or death. Previous work using the nematode C. elegans identified an interaction between the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS) pathways in the regulation of lipid homeostasis. The molecular components required for this interaction, however, were not fully understood. Here we report that INS-4, one of 40 insulin-like peptides (ILPs), is regulated by BMP signaling to modulate fat accumulation. Furthermore, we find that the IIS transcription factor DAF-16/FoxO, but not SKN-1/Nrf, acts downstream of BMP signaling in lipid homeostasis. Interestingly, BMP activity alters sensitivity of these two transcription factors to IIS-promoted cytoplasmic retention in opposite ways. Finally, we probe the extent of BMP and IIS interactions by testing additional IIS functions including dauer formation, aging, and autophagy induction. Coupled with our previous work and that of other groups, we conclude that BMP and IIS pathways have at least three modes of interaction: independent, epistatic, and antagonistic. The molecular interactions we identify provide new insight into mechanisms of signaling crosstalk and potential therapeutic targets for IIS-related pathologies such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F. Clark
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Emma J. Ciccarelli
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Peter Kayastha
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Gehan Ranepura
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Katerina K. Yamamoto
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Muhammad S. Hasan
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Uday Madaan
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Alicia Meléndez
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Karp X. Hormonal Regulation of Diapause and Development in Nematodes, Insects, and Fishes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.735924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diapause is a state of developmental arrest adopted in response to or in anticipation of environmental conditions that are unfavorable for growth. In many cases, diapause is facultative, such that animals may undergo either a diapause or a non-diapause developmental trajectory, depending on environmental cues. Diapause is characterized by enhanced stress resistance, reduced metabolism, and increased longevity. The ability to postpone reproduction until suitable conditions are found is important to the survival of many animals, and both vertebrate and invertebrate species can undergo diapause. The decision to enter diapause occurs at the level of the whole animal, and thus hormonal signaling pathways are common regulators of the diapause decision. Unlike other types of developmental arrest, diapause is programmed, such that the diapause developmental trajectory includes a pre-diapause preparatory phase, diapause itself, recovery from diapause, and post-diapause development. Therefore, developmental pathways are profoundly affected by diapause. Here, I review two conserved hormonal pathways, insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) and nuclear hormone receptor signaling (NHR), and their role in regulating diapause across three animal phyla. Specifically, the species reviewed are Austrofundulus limnaeus and Nothobranchius furzeri annual killifishes, Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, and insect species including Drosophila melanogaster, Culex pipiens, and Bombyx mori. In addition, the developmental changes that occur as a result of diapause are discussed, with a focus on how IIS and NHR pathways interact with core developmental pathways in C. elegans larvae that undergo diapause.
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34
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Makino M, Ulzii E, Shirasaki R, Kim J, You YJ. Regulation of Satiety Quiescence by Neuropeptide Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:678590. [PMID: 34335159 PMCID: PMC8319666 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep and metabolism are interconnected homeostatic states; the sleep cycle can be entrained by the feeding cycle, and perturbation of the sleep often results in dysregulation in metabolism. However, the neuro-molecular mechanism by which metabolism regulates sleep is not fully understood. We investigated how metabolism and feeding regulate sleep using satiety quiescence behavior as a readout in Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares certain key aspects of postprandial sleep in mammals. From an RNA interference-based screen of two neuropeptide families, RFamide-related peptides (FLPs) and insulin-like peptides (INSs), we identified flp-11, known to regulate other types of sleep-like behaviors in C. elegans, as a gene that plays the most significant role in satiety quiescence. A mutation in flp-11 significantly reduces quiescence, whereas over-expression of the gene enhances it. A genetic analysis shows that FLP-11 acts upstream of the cGMP signaling but downstream of the TGFβ pathway, suggesting that TGFβ released from a pair of head sensory neurons (ASI) activates FLP-11 in an interneuron (RIS). Then, cGMP signaling acting in downstream of RIS neurons induces satiety quiescence. Among the 28 INSs genes screened, ins-1, known to play a significant role in starvation-associated behavior working in AIA is inhibitory to satiety quiescence. Our study suggests that specific combinations of neuropeptides are released, and their signals are integrated in order for an animal to gauge its metabolic state and to control satiety quiescence, a feeding-induced sleep-like state in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Makino
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Biology, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Japan
| | - Enkhjin Ulzii
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Biology, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Japan
| | - Riku Shirasaki
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Biology, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Japan
| | - Jeongho Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Young-Jai You
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Biology, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Japan.,Center for Hypothalamic Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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35
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Choi LS, Shi C, Ashraf J, Sohrabi S, Murphy CT. Oleic Acid Protects Caenorhabditis Mothers From Mating-Induced Death and the Cost of Reproduction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:690373. [PMID: 34179018 PMCID: PMC8226236 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction comes at a cost, including accelerated death. Previous studies of the interconnections between reproduction, lifespan, and fat metabolism in C. elegans were predominantly performed in low-reproduction conditions. To understand how increased reproduction affects lifespan and fat metabolism, we examined mated worms; we find that a Δ9 desaturase, FAT-7, is significantly up-regulated. Dietary supplementation of oleic acid (OA), the immediate downstream product of FAT-7 activity, restores fat storage and completely rescues mating-induced death, while other fatty acids cannot. OA-mediated lifespan restoration is also observed in C. elegans mutants suffering increased death from short-term mating, and in mated C. remanei females, indicating a conserved role of oleic acid in post-mating lifespan regulation. Our results suggest that increased reproduction can be uncoupled from the costs of reproduction from somatic longevity regulation if provided with the limiting lipid, oleic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo S Choi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Cheng Shi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Jasmine Ashraf
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Salman Sohrabi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
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36
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GABAergic synapses suppress intestinal innate immunity via insulin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2021063118. [PMID: 33972423 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021063118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAergic neurotransmission constitutes a major inhibitory signaling mechanism that plays crucial roles in central nervous system physiology and immune cell immunomodulation. However, its roles in innate immunity remain unclear. Here, we report that deficiency in the GABAergic neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of Caenorhabditis elegans results in enhanced resistance to pathogens, whereas pathogen infection enhances the strength of GABAergic transmission. GABAergic synapses control innate immunity in a manner dependent on the FOXO/DAF-16 but not the p38/PMK-1 pathway. Our data reveal that the insulin-like peptide INS-31 level was dramatically decreased in the GABAergic NMJ GABAAR-deficient unc-49 mutant compared with wild-type animals. C. elegans with ins-31 knockdown or loss of function exhibited enhanced resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 exposure. INS-31 may act downstream of GABAergic NMJs and in body wall muscle to control intestinal innate immunity in a cell-nonautonomous manner. Our results reveal a signaling axis of synapse-muscular insulin-intestinal innate immunity in vivo.
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Dubois C, Gupta S, Mugler A, Félix MA. Temporally regulated cell migration is sensitive to variation in body size. Development 2021; 148:dev196949. [PMID: 33593818 PMCID: PMC10683003 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have measured the robustness to perturbations of the final position of a long-range migrating cell. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the QR neuroblast migrates anteriorly, while undergoing three division rounds. We study the final position of two of its great-granddaughters, the end of migration of which was previously shown to depend on a timing mechanism. We find that the variance in their final position is similar to that of other long-range migrating neurons. As expected from the timing mechanism, the position of QR descendants depends on body size, which we varied by changing maternal age or using body size mutants. Using a mathematical model, we show that body size variation is partially compensated for. Applying environmental perturbations, we find that the variance in final position increased following starvation at hatching. The mean position is displaced upon a temperature shift. Finally, highly significant variation was found among C. elegans wild isolates. Overall, this study reveals that the final position of these neurons is quite robust to stochastic variation, shows some sensitivity to body size and to external perturbations, and varies in the species.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Dubois
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Shivam Gupta
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Andrew Mugler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, 75005 Paris, France
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38
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Wang L, Bianchi L. Maintenance of protein homeostasis in glia extends lifespan in C. elegans. Exp Neurol 2021; 339:113648. [PMID: 33600813 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mounting evidence support that glia play a key role in organismal ageing. However, the mechanisms by which glia impact ageing are not understood. One of the processes that has significant impact on the rate of ageing is the unfolded protein response. The more robust the UPR, the more the organism can counteract the effect of environmental and genetic stressors. However, how decline of cellular UPR translates into organismal ageing and eventual death is not fully understood. Here we discuss recent findings highlighting that neuropeptides released by glia act long distance to regulate ageing in C. elegans. Taking advantage of the short lifespan and the genetic amenability of this organism, the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein responses (UPRER) can be activated in C. elegans glia. This leads to cell-nonautonomous activation of the UPRER in the intestine. Activation of intestinal UPRER requires the function of genes involved in neuropeptide processing and release, suggesting that neuropeptides signal from glia to the intestine to regulate ER stress response. Importantly, the cell-nonautonomous activation of UPRER leads to extension of lifespan. Taken together, these data suggest that environmental and genetic factors that impact the response of glia to stress have the potential to influence organismal ageing. Further research on the specific neuropeptides involved should cast new light on the mechanism of ageing and may suggest novel anti-ageing therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Laura Bianchi
- Department Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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39
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Miller HA, Dean ES, Pletcher SD, Leiser SF. Cell non-autonomous regulation of health and longevity. eLife 2020; 9:62659. [PMID: 33300870 PMCID: PMC7728442 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As the demographics of the modern world skew older, understanding and mitigating the effects of aging is increasingly important within biomedical research. Recent studies in model organisms demonstrate that the aging process is frequently modified by an organism’s ability to perceive and respond to changes in its environment. Many well-studied pathways that influence aging involve sensory cells, frequently neurons, that signal to peripheral tissues and promote survival during the presence of stress. Importantly, this activation of stress response pathways is often sufficient to improve health and longevity even in the absence of stress. Here, we review the current landscape of research highlighting the importance of cell non-autonomous signaling in modulating aging from C. elegans to mammals. We also discuss emerging concepts including retrograde signaling, approaches to mapping these networks, and development of potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary A Miller
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Elizabeth S Dean
- Molecular & Integrative Physiology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Scott D Pletcher
- Molecular & Integrative Physiology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Scott F Leiser
- Molecular & Integrative Physiology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
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40
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Mata-Cabana A, Pérez-Nieto C, Olmedo M. Nutritional control of postembryonic development progression and arrest in Caenorhabditis elegans. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2020; 107:33-87. [PMID: 33641748 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Developmental programs are under strict genetic control that favors robustness of the process. In order to guarantee the same outcome in different environmental situations, development is modulated by input pathways, which inform about external conditions. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the process of postembryonic development involves a series of stereotypic cell divisions, the progression of which is controlled by the nutritional status of the animal. C. elegans can arrest development at different larval stages, leading to cell arrest of the relevant divisions of the stage. This means that studying the nutritional control of development in C. elegans we can learn about the mechanisms controlling cell division in an in vivo model. In this work, we reviewed the current knowledge about the nutrient sensing pathways that control the progression or arrest of development in response to nutrient availability, with a special focus on the arrest at the L1 stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Mata-Cabana
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avd. Reina Mercedes, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carmen Pérez-Nieto
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avd. Reina Mercedes, Sevilla, Spain
| | - María Olmedo
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avd. Reina Mercedes, Sevilla, Spain.
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41
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Liu H, Tian L, Wang D. Notch receptor GLP-1 regulates toxicity of simulated microgravity stress by activating germline-intestine communication of insulin signaling in C. elegans. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 534:248-253. [PMID: 33280816 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.11.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We here investigated molecular basis of notch receptor GLP-1 in controlling simulated microgravity stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. glp-1 expression was decreased by simulated microgravity. Meanwhile, glp-1 mutation caused resistance to toxicity of simulated microgravity. GLP-1 acted in germline cells to control toxicity of simulated microgravity. In germline cells, RNAi knockdown of glp-1 increased daf-16 expression. RNAi knockdown of daf-16 suppressed resistance to toxicity of simulated microgravity in glp-1 mutant. In simulated microgravity treated worms, germline RNAi knockdown of glp-1 decreased expressions of daf-28, ins-39, and ins-8 encoding insulin peptides, and resistance to simulated microgravity toxicity could be detected in daf-28(RNAi), ins-39(RNAi), and ins-8(RNAi) worms. In simulated microgravity treated worms, RNAi knockdown of daf-28, ins-39, or ins-8 in germline cells further increased expression and nucleus localization of transcriptional factor DAF-16 in intestinal cells. Therefore, the GLP-1-activated germline-intestine communication of insulin signaling is required for control of simulated microgravity toxicity in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanliang Liu
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lijie Tian
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Dayong Wang
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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42
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Baugh LR, Hu PJ. Starvation Responses Throughout the Caenorhabditiselegans Life Cycle. Genetics 2020; 216:837-878. [PMID: 33268389 PMCID: PMC7768255 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans survives on ephemeral food sources in the wild, and the species has a variety of adaptive responses to starvation. These features of its life history make the worm a powerful model for studying developmental, behavioral, and metabolic starvation responses. Starvation resistance is fundamental to life in the wild, and it is relevant to aging and common diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Worms respond to acute starvation at different times in the life cycle by arresting development and altering gene expression and metabolism. They also anticipate starvation during early larval development, engaging an alternative developmental program resulting in dauer diapause. By arresting development, these responses postpone growth and reproduction until feeding resumes. A common set of signaling pathways mediates systemic regulation of development in each context but with important distinctions. Several aspects of behavior, including feeding, foraging, taxis, egg laying, sleep, and associative learning, are also affected by starvation. A variety of conserved signaling, gene regulatory, and metabolic mechanisms support adaptation to starvation. Early life starvation can have persistent effects on adults and their descendants. With its short generation time, C. elegans is an ideal model for studying maternal provisioning, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and developmental origins of adult health and disease in humans. This review provides a comprehensive overview of starvation responses throughout the C. elegans life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 and
| | - Patrick J Hu
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
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43
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Podraza-Farhanieh A, Natarajan B, Raj D, Kao G, Naredi P. ENPL-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of GRP94, promotes insulin secretion via regulation of proinsulin processing and maturation. Development 2020; 147:dev190082. [PMID: 33037039 PMCID: PMC10666919 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Insulin/IGF signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans is crucial for proper development of the dauer larva and growth control. Mutants disturbing insulin processing, secretion and downstream signaling perturb this process and have helped identify genes that affect progression of type 2 diabetes. Insulin maturation is required for its proper secretion by pancreatic β cells. The role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones in insulin processing and secretion needs further study. We show that the C. elegans ER chaperone ENPL-1/GRP94 (HSP90B1), acts in dauer development by promoting insulin secretion and signaling. Processing of a proinsulin likely involves binding between the two proteins via a specific domain. We show that, in enpl-1 mutants, an unprocessed insulin exits the ER lumen and is found in dense core vesicles, but is not secreted. The high ER stress in enpl-1 mutants does not cause the secretion defect. Importantly, increased ENPL-1 levels result in increased secretion. Taken together, our work indicates that ENPL-1 operates at the level of insulin availability and is an essential modulator of insulin processing and secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Podraza-Farhanieh
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Dorota Raj
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gautam Kao
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Naredi
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
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44
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Abstract
Sexual interactions negatively impact health and longevity in many species across the animal kingdom. C. elegans has been established as a good model to study how mating and intense sexual interactions influence longevity of the individuals. In this chapter, we review the most recent discoveries in this field. We first describe the phenotypes caused by intense mating, including shrinking, fat loss, and glycogen loss. We then describe three major mechanisms underlying mating-induced killing: germline activation, seminal fluid transfer, and male pheromone-mediated toxicity. Next, we summarize the current knowledge of genetic pathways involved in regulating mating-induced death, including DAF-9/DAF-12 steroid signaling, Insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), and TOR signaling. Finally, we discuss the possible fitness benefits of mating-induced death. Throughout this review, we compare and contrast mating-induced death between the sexes and among different species in an effort to discuss this phenomenon and underlying mechanisms from the evolutionary perspective. Further investigation using mated C. elegans will improve our understanding of sexual antagonism, as well as the coordination between reproduction and somatic longevity in response to various external signals. Due to the evolutionary conservation in many aspects of mating-induced death, what we learn from a short-lived mated worm could provide new strategies to improve our own fitness and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Shi
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.
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45
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Qu Z, Ji S, Zheng S. Glucose and cholesterol induce abnormal cell divisions via DAF-12 and MPK-1 in C. elegans. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:16255-16269. [PMID: 32857726 PMCID: PMC7485695 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
People exposed to starvation have a high risk of developing cancer later in life, and prior studies have shown these individuals have high insulin and cholesterol levels and are sensitive to glucose. Using C. elegans as a model, we found that glucose and cholesterol can promote survival and cause starved L1 diapause worms to undergo abnormal neuronal cell divisions. Starvation has also been shown to promote long-term survival; however, we found that the functions of glucose and cholesterol in relation to these cell divisions are distinct from their effects on survival. We demonstrate that glucose functions in a DAF-16/FOXO-independent IIS pathway to activate the MAPK ontogenetic signaling to induce neuronal Q-cell divisions, and cholesterol works through DAF-12/steroidogenic pathways to promote these cell divisions. daf-12 and mpk-1/MAPK mutants suppress the function of glucose and cholesterol in these divisions, and a fully functioning dpMPK-1 requires the steroid hormone receptor DAF-12 for these divisions to occur. These afflictions also can be passed on to the immediate progeny. This work indicates a possible link between glucose and cholesterol in starved animals and an increased risk of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Qu
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China.,Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China
| | - Shaoping Ji
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China.,Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China
| | - Shanqing Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China.,Medical School, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan Province, China
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46
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Martinez BA, Reis Rodrigues P, Nuñez Medina RM, Mondal P, Harrison NJ, Lone MA, Webster A, Gurkar AU, Grill B, Gill MS. An alternatively spliced, non-signaling insulin receptor modulates insulin sensitivity via insulin peptide sequestration in C. elegans. eLife 2020; 9:49917. [PMID: 32096469 PMCID: PMC7041946 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the nematode C. elegans, insulin signaling regulates development and aging in response to the secretion of numerous insulin peptides. Here, we describe a novel, non-signaling isoform of the nematode insulin receptor (IR), DAF-2B, that modulates insulin signaling by sequestration of insulin peptides. DAF-2B arises via alternative splicing and retains the extracellular ligand binding domain but lacks the intracellular signaling domain. A daf-2b splicing reporter revealed active regulation of this transcript through development, particularly in the dauer larva, a diapause stage associated with longevity. CRISPR knock-in of mScarlet into the daf-2b genomic locus confirmed that DAF-2B is expressed in vivo and is likely secreted. Genetic studies indicate that DAF-2B influences dauer entry, dauer recovery and adult lifespan by altering insulin sensitivity according to the prevailing insulin milieu. Thus, in C. elegans alternative splicing at the daf-2 locus generates a truncated IR that fine-tunes insulin signaling in response to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A Martinez
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Pedro Reis Rodrigues
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Ricardo M Nuñez Medina
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Prosenjit Mondal
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Neale J Harrison
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Museer A Lone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Amanda Webster
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Aditi U Gurkar
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Brock Grill
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
| | - Matthew S Gill
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute - Scripps Florida, Jupiter, United States
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47
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Rashid S, Pho KB, Mesbahi H, MacNeil LT. Nutrient Sensing and Response Drive Developmental Progression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bioessays 2020; 42:e1900194. [PMID: 32003906 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In response to nutrient limitation, many animals, including Caenorhabditis elegans, slow or arrest their development. This process requires mechanisms that sense essential nutrients and induce appropriate responses. When faced with nutrient limitation, C. elegans can induce both short and long-term survival strategies, including larval arrest, decreased developmental rate, and dauer formation. To select the most advantageous strategy, information from many different sensors must be integrated into signaling pathways, including target of rapamycin (TOR) and insulin, that regulate developmental progression. Here, how nutrient information is sensed and integrated into developmental decisions that determine developmental rate and progression in C. elegans is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabih Rashid
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kim B Pho
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hiva Mesbahi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lesley T MacNeil
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.,Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.,Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada
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48
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Elucidating the molecular and developmental biology of parasitic nematodes: Moving to a multiomics paradigm. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 108:175-229. [PMID: 32291085 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the sequencing, assembly, annotation and analyses of genomes and transcriptomes of parasitic worms of socioeconomic importance. This progress has somewhat improved our knowledge and understanding of these pathogens at the molecular level. However, compared with the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the areas of functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics of parasitic nematodes are still in their infancy, and there are major gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes. The information on signalling molecules, molecular pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are known to be involved in developmental processes in C. elegans and the availability of some molecular resources (draft genomes, transcriptomes and some proteomes) for selected parasitic nematodes provide a basis to start exploring the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes. Indeed, some studies have identified molecules and pathways that might associate with developmental processes in related, parasitic nematodes, such as Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm). However, detailed information is often scant and 'omics resources are limited, preventing a proper integration of 'omic data sets and comprehensive analyses. Moreover, little is known about the functional roles of pheromones, hormones, signalling pathways and post-transcriptional/post-translational regulations in the development of key parasitic nematodes throughout their entire life cycles. Although C. elegans is an excellent model to assist molecular studies of parasitic nematodes, its use is limited when it comes to explorations of processes that are specific to parasitism within host animals. A deep understanding of parasitic nematodes, such as H. contortus, requires substantially enhanced resources and the use of integrative 'omics approaches for analyses. The improved genome and well-established in vitro larval culture system for H. contortus provide unprecedented opportunities for comprehensive studies of the transcriptomes (mRNA and miRNA), proteomes (somatic, excretory/secretory and phosphorylated proteins) and lipidomes (e.g., polar and neutral lipids) of this nematode. Such resources should enable in-depth explorations of its developmental biology at a level, not previously possible. The main aims of this review are (i) to provide a background on the development of nematodes, with a particular emphasis on the molecular aspects involved in the dauer formation and exit in C. elegans; (ii) to critically appraise the current state of knowledge of the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes and identify key knowledge gaps; (iii) to cover salient aspects of H. contortus, with a focus on the recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics as well as in vitro culturing systems; (iv) to review recent advances in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular and developmental biology of H. contortus using an integrative multiomics approach, and discuss the implications of this approach for detailed explorations of signalling molecules, molecular processes and pathways likely associated with nematode development, adaptation and parasitism, and for the identification of novel intervention targets against these pathogens. Clearly, the multiomics approach established recently is readily applicable to exploring a wide range of interesting and socioeconomically significant parasitic worms (including also trematodes and cestodes) at the molecular level, and to elucidate host-parasite interactions and disease processes.
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49
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DAF-16/FoxO in Caenorhabditis elegans and Its Role in Metabolic Remodeling. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010109. [PMID: 31906434 PMCID: PMC7017163 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
DAF-16, the only forkhead box transcription factors class O (FoxO) homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans, integrates signals from upstream pathways to elicit transcriptional changes in many genes involved in aging, development, stress, metabolism, and immunity. The major regulator of DAF-16 activity is the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS) pathway, reduction of which leads to lifespan extension in worms, flies, mice, and humans. In C. elegans daf-2 mutants, reduced IIS leads to a heterochronic activation of a dauer survival program during adulthood. This program includes elevated antioxidant defense and a metabolic shift toward accumulation of carbohydrates (i.e., trehalose and glycogen) and triglycerides, and activation of the glyoxylate shunt, which could allow fat-to-carbohydrate conversion. The longevity of daf-2 mutants seems to be partially supported by endogenous trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide that mammals cannot synthesize, which points toward considerable differences in downstream mechanisms by which IIS regulates aging in distinct groups.
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50
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Hubbard EJA, Schedl T. Biology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Stem Cell System. Genetics 2019; 213:1145-1188. [PMID: 31796552 PMCID: PMC6893382 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.300238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell systems regulate tissue development and maintenance. The germline stem cell system is essential for animal reproduction, controlling both the timing and number of progeny through its influence on gamete production. In this review, we first draw general comparisons to stem cell systems in other organisms, and then present our current understanding of the germline stem cell system in Caenorhabditis elegans In contrast to stereotypic somatic development and cell number stasis of adult somatic cells in C. elegans, the germline stem cell system has a variable division pattern, and the system differs between larval development, early adult peak reproduction and age-related decline. We discuss the cell and developmental biology of the stem cell system and the Notch regulated genetic network that controls the key decision between the stem cell fate and meiotic development, as it occurs under optimal laboratory conditions in adult and larval stages. We then discuss alterations of the stem cell system in response to environmental perturbations and aging. A recurring distinction is between processes that control stem cell fate and those that control cell cycle regulation. C. elegans is a powerful model for understanding germline stem cells and stem cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Jane Albert Hubbard
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016
| | - Tim Schedl
- and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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