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Ohta A, Sato Y, Isono K, Kajino T, Tanaka K, Taji T, Kuhara A. The intron binding protein EMB-4 is an opposite regulator of cold and high temperature tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae293. [PMID: 39118835 PMCID: PMC11309393 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Adaptation and tolerance to changes in heat and cold temperature are essential for survival and proliferation in plants and animals. However, there is no clear information regarding the common molecules between animals and plants. In this study, we found that heat, and cold tolerance of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is oppositely regulated by the RNA-binding protein EMB-4, whose plant homolog contains polymorphism causing heat tolerance diversity. Caenorhabditis elegans alters its cold and heat tolerance depending on the previous cultivation temperature, wherein EMB-4 respectively acts as a positive and negative controller of heat and cold tolerance by altering gene expression. Among the genes whose expression is regulated by EMB-4, a phospholipid scramblase, and an acid sphingomyelinase, which are involved in membrane lipid metabolism, were found to play essential roles in the negative regulation of heat tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Ohta
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Sato
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuho Isono
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Takuma Kajino
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tanaka
- NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Teruaki Taji
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuhara
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8501, Japan
- AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
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2
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Zhou L, Xu R. Invertebrate genetic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1328578. [PMID: 38500677 PMCID: PMC10944931 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1328578] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. The exact mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ALS remain unclear. The current consensus regarding the pathogenesis of ALS suggests that the interaction between genetic susceptibility and harmful environmental factors is a promising cause of ALS onset. The investigation of putative harmful environmental factors has been the subject of several ongoing studies, but the use of transgenic animal models to study ALS has provided valuable information on the onset of ALS. Here, we review the current common invertebrate genetic models used to study the pathology, pathophysiology, and pathogenesis of ALS. The considerations of the usage, advantages, disadvantages, costs, and availability of each invertebrate model will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- LiJun Zhou
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - RenShi Xu
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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3
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Ohnishi K, Sokabe T, Miura T, Tominaga M, Ohta A, Kuhara A. G protein-coupled receptor-based thermosensation determines temperature acclimatization of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1660. [PMID: 38396085 PMCID: PMC10891075 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46042-z] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals must sense and acclimatize to environmental temperatures for survival, yet their thermosensing mechanisms other than transient receptor potential (TRP) channels remain poorly understood. We identify a trimeric G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), SRH-40, which confers thermosensitivity in sensory neurons regulating temperature acclimatization in Caenorhabditis elegans. Systematic knockdown of 1000 GPCRs by RNAi reveals GPCRs involved in temperature acclimatization, among which srh-40 is highly expressed in the ADL sensory neuron, a temperature-responsive chemosensory neuron, where TRP channels act as accessorial thermoreceptors. In vivo Ca2+ imaging demonstrates that an srh-40 mutation reduced the temperature sensitivity of ADL, resulting in supranormal temperature acclimatization. Ectopically expressing SRH-40 in a non-warmth-sensing gustatory neuron confers temperature responses. Moreover, temperature-dependent SRH-40 activation is reconstituted in Drosophila S2R+ cells. Overall, SRH-40 may be involved in thermosensory signaling underlying temperature acclimatization. We propose a dual thermosensing machinery through a GPCR and TRP channels in a single sensory neuron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Ohnishi
- Graduate school of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan
- Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences (Medical), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan
| | - Takaaki Sokabe
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
- Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
- AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.
| | - Toru Miura
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan
| | - Makoto Tominaga
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Akane Ohta
- Graduate school of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Kuhara
- Graduate school of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-8501, Japan.
- AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.
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4
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Ohta A, Yamashiro S, Kuhara A. Temperature acclimation: Temperature shift induces system conversion to cold tolerance in C. elegans. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00075-5. [PMID: 37086751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Acclimation to temperature is one of the survival strategies used by organisms to adapt to changing environmental temperatures. Caenorhabditis elegans' cold tolerance is altered by previous cultivation temperature, and similarly, past low-temperature induces a longer lifespan. Temperature is thought to cause a large shift in homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and reproduction in the organism because it is a direct physiological factor during chemical events. This paper will share and discuss what we know so far about the neural and molecular mechanisms that control cold tolerance and lifespan by altering lipid metabolism and physiological characteristics. We hope that this will contribute to a better understanding of how organisms respond to temperature changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Ohta
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo 100-0004, JAPAN.
| | - Serina Yamashiro
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN
| | - Atsushi Kuhara
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, JAPAN; AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo 100-0004, JAPAN.
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5
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Migliori ML, Goya ME, Lamberti ML, Silva F, Rota R, Bénard C, Golombek DA. Caenorhabditis elegans as a Promising Model Organism in Chronobiology. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:131-147. [PMID: 36680418 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221143483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms represent an adaptive feature, ubiquitously found in nature, which grants living beings the ability to anticipate daily variations in their environment. They have been found in a multitude of organisms, ranging from bacteria to fungi, plants, and animals. Circadian rhythms are generated by endogenous clocks that can be entrained daily by environmental cycles such as light and temperature. The molecular machinery of circadian clocks includes a transcriptional-translational feedback loop that takes approximately 24 h to complete. Drosophila melanogaster has been a model organism of choice to understand the molecular basis of circadian clocks. However, alternative animal models are also being adopted, each offering their respective experimental advantages. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides an excellent model for genetics and neuro-behavioral studies, which thanks to its ease of use and manipulation, as well as availability of genetic data and mutant strains, is currently used as a novel model for circadian research. Here, we aim to evaluate C. elegans as a model for chronobiological studies, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses while reviewing the available literature. Possible zeitgebers (including light and temperature) are also discussed. Determining the molecular bases and the neural circuitry involved in the central pacemaker of the C. elegans' clock will contribute to the understanding of its circadian system, becoming a novel model organism for the study of diseases due to alterations of the circadian cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Migliori
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Goya
- European Institute for the Biology of Aging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Francisco Silva
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Rosana Rota
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Claire Bénard
- Department of Biological Sciences, CERMO-FC Research Center, Universite du Québec à Montréal, Montreál, QC, Canada
| | - Diego Andrés Golombek
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
- Universidad de San Andrés, Victoria, Argentina
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6
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Liu H, Wu JJ, Li R, Wang PZ, Huang JH, Xu Y, Zhao JL, Wu PP, Li SJ, Wu ZX. Disexcitation in the ASH/RIM/ADL negative feedback circuit fine-tunes hyperosmotic sensation and avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1101628. [PMID: 37008778 PMCID: PMC10050701 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1101628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensations, especially nociception, are tightly controlled and regulated by the central and peripheral nervous systems. Osmotic sensation and related physiological and behavioral reactions are essential for animal well-being and survival. In this study, we find that interaction between secondary nociceptive ADL and primary nociceptive ASH neurons upregulates Caenorhabditis elegans avoidance of the mild and medium hyperosmolality of 0.41 and 0.88 Osm but does not affect avoidance of high osmolality of 1.37 and 2.29 Osm. The interaction between ASH and ADL is actualized through a negative feedback circuit consisting of ASH, ADL, and RIM interneurons. In this circuit, hyperosmolality-sensitive ADL augments the ASH hyperosmotic response and animal hyperosmotic avoidance; RIM inhibits ADL and is excited by ASH; thus, ASH exciting RIM reduces ADL augmenting ASH. The neuronal signal integration modality in the circuit is disexcitation. In addition, ASH promotes hyperosmotic avoidance through ASH/RIC/AIY feedforward circuit. Finally, we find that in addition to ASH and ADL, multiple sensory neurons are involved in hyperosmotic sensation and avoidance behavior.
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7
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Mobille Z, Follmann R, Vidal-Gadea A, Rosa E. Quantitative description of neuronal calcium dynamics in C. elegans' thermoreception. Biosystems 2023; 223:104814. [PMID: 36435352 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104814] [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] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The dynamical mechanisms underlying thermoreception in the nematode C. elegans are studied with a mathematical model for the amphid finger-like ciliated (AFD) neurons. The equations, equipped with Arrhenius temperature factors, account for the worm's thermotaxis when seeking environments at its cultivation temperature, and for the AFD's calcium dynamics when exposed to both linearly ramping and oscillatory temperature stimuli. Calculations of the peak time for calcium responses during simulations of pulse-like temperature inputs are consistent with known behavioral time scales of C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Mobille
- Department of Physics, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA; Department of Mathematics, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA.
| | - Rosangela Follmann
- School of Information Technology, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA.
| | - Andrés Vidal-Gadea
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA.
| | - Epaminondas Rosa
- Department of Physics, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, 61790, IL, USA.
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8
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Head-tail-head neural wiring underlies gut fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans temperature acclimation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203121119. [PMID: 35914124 PMCID: PMC9371718 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203121119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals maintain the ability to survive and reproduce by acclimating to environmental temperatures. We showed here that Caenorhabditis elegans exhibited temperature acclimation plasticity, which was regulated by a head-tail-head neural circuitry coupled with gut fat storage. After experiencing cold, C. elegans individuals memorized the experience and were prepared against subsequent cold stimuli. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) regulated temperature acclimation in the ASJ thermosensory neurons and RMG head interneurons, where it modulated ASJ thermosensitivity in response to past cultivation temperature. The PVQ tail interneurons mediated the communication between ASJ and RMG via glutamatergic signaling. Temperature acclimation occurred via gut fat storage regulation by the triglyceride lipase ATGL-1, which was activated by a neuropeptide, FLP-7, downstream of CREB. Thus, a head-tail-head neural circuit coordinated with gut fat influenced experience-dependent temperature acclimation.
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9
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Chen H, Li R, Zhao F, Luan L, Han T, Li Z. Betulinic acid increases lifespan and stress resistance via insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Nutr 2022; 9:960239. [PMID: 35967806 PMCID: PMC9372536 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.960239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies reported that betulinic acid (BA), a natural product extracted from birch bark, exhibited various beneficial effects in vitro. However, its pharmacological activities in aging are rarely understood. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans was deployed as a whole animal model to investigate the impacts of BA on lifespan and stress resistance. Wild-type C. elegans were fed in the presence or absence of BA and tested for a series of phenotypes, including longevity, mobility, reproductive capacity, pharyngeal pumping, heat stress, and oxidative stress. BA at the optimal dose (50 μg/mL) extended the lifespan, improved the healthspan, and significantly evoked the increased oxidative stress resistance in C. elegans. Incorporating the genetic analysis with different types of longevity mutants, DAF-16, the downstream effector of the Insulin/IGF-1 receptor signaling, was revealed to mediate the protective effects of BA on lifespan and antioxidant activity. Together, these data showcased the potential of BA in promoting healthy aging, which shall facilitate its further development in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
- College of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, China
| | - Rongji Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, China
| | - Li Luan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin Agriculture University, Changchun, China
| | - Tiantian Han
- College of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun, China
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10
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Bryant AS, Ruiz F, Lee JH, Hallem EA. The neural basis of heat seeking in a human-infective parasitic worm. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2206-2221.e6. [PMID: 35483361 PMCID: PMC9158753 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Soil-transmitted parasitic nematodes infect over one billion people and cause devastating morbidity worldwide. Many of these parasites have infective larvae that locate hosts using thermal cues. Here, we identify the thermosensory neurons of the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and show that they display unique functional adaptations that enable the precise encoding of temperatures up to human body temperature. We demonstrate that experience-dependent thermal plasticity regulates the dynamic range of these neurons while preserving their ability to encode host-relevant temperatures. We describe a novel behavior in which infective larvae spontaneously reverse attraction to heat sources at sub-body temperatures and show that this behavior is mediated by rapid adaptation of the thermosensory neurons. Finally, we identify thermoreceptors that confer parasite-specific sensitivity to body heat. Our results pinpoint the parasite-specific neural adaptations that enable parasitic nematodes to target humans and provide the foundation for drug development to prevent human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astra S Bryant
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Felicitas Ruiz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Joon Ha Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elissa A Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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11
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Takeishi A. Environmental-temperature and internal-state dependent thermotaxis plasticity of nematodes. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 74:102541. [PMID: 35447377 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Thermotaxis behavior of Caenorhabditis elegans is robust and highly plastic. A pair of sensory neurons, AFD, memorize environmental/cultivation temperature and communicate with a downstream neural circuit to adjust the temperature preference of the animal. This results in a behavioral bias where worms will move toward their cultivation temperature on a thermal gradient. Thermotaxis of C. elegans is also affected by the internal state and is temporarily abolished when worms are starved. Here I will discuss how C. elegans is able to modulate its behavior based on temperature by integrating environmental and internal information. Recent studies show that some parasitic nematodes have a similar thermosensory mechanism to C. elegans and exhibit cultivation-temperature-dependent thermotaxis. I will also discuss the common neural mechanisms that regulate thermosensation and thermotaxis in C. elegans and Strongyloides stercoralis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Takeishi
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science, RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Japan.
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12
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Glauser DA. Temperature sensing and context-dependent thermal behavior in nematodes. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 73:102525. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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13
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Gulyas L, Powell JR. Cold shock induces a terminal investment reproductive response in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1338. [PMID: 35079060 PMCID: PMC8789813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05340-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Challenges from environmental stressors have a profound impact on many life-history traits of an organism, including reproductive strategy. Examples across multiple taxa have demonstrated that maternal reproductive investment resulting from stress can improve offspring survival; a form of matricidal provisioning when death appears imminent is known as terminal investment. Here we report a reproductive response in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans upon exposure to acute cold shock at 2 °C, whereby vitellogenic lipid movement from the soma to the germline appears to be massively upregulated at the expense of parental survival. This response is dependent on functional TAX-2; TAX-4 cGMP-gated channels that are part of canonical thermosensory mechanisms in worms and can be prevented in the presence of activated SKN-1/Nrf2, the master stress regulator. Increased maternal provisioning promotes improved embryonic cold shock survival, which is notably suppressed in animals with impaired vitellogenesis. These findings suggest that cold shock in C. elegans triggers terminal investment to promote progeny fitness at the expense of parental survival and may serve as a tractable model for future studies of stress-induced progeny plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Gulyas
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA.,Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94702, USA
| | - Jennifer R Powell
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, USA.
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14
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OKAHATA M, MOTOMURA H, OHTA A, KUHARA A. Molecular physiology regulating cold tolerance and acclimation of Caenorhabditis elegans. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2022; 98:126-139. [PMID: 35283408 PMCID: PMC8948419 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.98.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many organisms can survive and proliferate in changing environmental temperatures. Here, we introduce a molecular physiological mechanism for cold tolerance and acclimation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans on the basis of previous reports and a new result. Three types of thermosensory neurons located in the head, ASJ, ASG, and ADL, regulate cold tolerance and acclimation. In ASJ, components of the light-signaling pathway are involved in thermosensation. In ASG, mechanoreceptor DEG-1 acts as thermoreceptor. In ADL, transient receptor potential channels are thermoreceptors; however, the presence of an additional unidentified thermoreceptor is also speculated. ADL thermoresponsivity is modulated by oxygen sensory signaling from URX oxygen sensory neurons via hub interneurons. ASJ releases insulin and steroid hormones that are received by the intestine, which results in lipid composition changing with cold tolerance. Additionally, the intestinal transcriptional alteration affects sperm functions, which in turn affects the thermosensitivity of ASJ; thus, the neuron-intestine-sperm-neuron tissue circuit is essential for cold tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misaki OKAHATA
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Haruka MOTOMURA
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Akane OHTA
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Atsushi KUHARA
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- PRIME, AMED, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Kanwal JK, Coddington E, Frazer R, Limbania D, Turner G, Davila KJ, Givens MA, Williams V, Datta SR, Wasserman S. Internal State: Dynamic, Interconnected Communication Loops Distributed Across Body, Brain, and Time. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:867-886. [PMID: 34115114 PMCID: PMC8623242 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Internal state profoundly alters perception and behavior. For example, a starved fly may approach and consume foods that it would otherwise find undesirable. A socially engaged newt may remain engaged in the presence of a predator, whereas a solitary newt would otherwise attempt to escape. Yet, the definition of internal state is fluid and ill-defined. As an interdisciplinary group of scholars spanning five career stages (from undergraduate to full professor) and six academic institutions, we came together in an attempt to provide an operational definition of internal state that could be useful in understanding the behavior and the function of nervous systems, at timescales relevant to the individual. In this perspective, we propose to define internal state through an integrative framework centered on dynamic and interconnected communication loops within and between the body and the brain. This framework is informed by a synthesis of historical and contemporary paradigms used by neurobiologists, ethologists, physiologists, and endocrinologists. We view internal state as composed of both spatially distributed networks (body-brain communication loops), and temporally distributed mechanisms that weave together neural circuits, physiology, and behavior. Given the wide spatial and temporal scales at which internal state operates-and therefore the broad range of scales at which it could be defined-we choose to anchor our definition in the body. Here we focus on studies that highlight body-to-brain signaling; body represented in endocrine signaling, and brain represented in sensory signaling. This integrative framework of internal state potentially unites the disparate paradigms often used by scientists grappling with body-brain interactions. We invite others to join us as we examine approaches and question assumptions to study the underlying mechanisms and temporal dynamics of internal state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessleen K Kanwal
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of
Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Emma Coddington
- Department of Biology, Willamette University, Salem, OR
97301, USA
| | - Rachel Frazer
- Division of Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia Universitye,
New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Daniela Limbania
- Department of Neuroscience, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
02481, USA
| | - Grace Turner
- Department of Neuroscience, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
02481, USA
| | - Karla J Davila
- Department of Biology, Willamette University, Salem, OR
97301, USA
| | - Michael A Givens
- Department of Biology, Willamette University, Salem, OR
97301, USA
| | - Valarie Williams
- Department of Dance, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
43210, USA
| | | | - Sara Wasserman
- Department of Neuroscience, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
02481, USA
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16
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Queirós L, Monteiro L, Marques C, Pereira JL, Gonçalves FJM, Aschner M, Pereira P. Measurement of the Effects of Metals on Taxis-to-Food Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e131. [PMID: 33974358 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chemosensation in nematodes is linked to processes that affect their ability to survive, such as the search for food and the avoidance of toxic substances. Since the 1970s, numerous studies have assessed chemotaxis in the nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans, focusing on a multitude of agents, including bacteria (food), ions, salts, hormones, volatile organic compounds, and, to a lesser extent, metal-contaminated medium/food. The few studies evaluating metal exposure have reported a variety of responses (neutral, attraction, avoidance), which generally appear to be contaminant and/or concentration specific. Differences in experimental designs, however, hinder appropriate comparison of the findings and attainment of firm conclusions. Therefore, we herein propose and describe a detailed protocol for the assessment of the effects of metals on taxis-to-food behavior in C. elegans. Distinct approaches are proposed in two innovative stages of testing to (1) screen metals' effects on taxis-to-food behavior and (2) classify the behavioral response as attraction/avoidance/indifference or preference. Use of such a standard protocol will allow for easy comparison across studies and direct interpretation of results. Findings using this model system can contribute to a deeper understanding of the real risks of metal contamination to nematodes and how such contaminants could impact ecosystems in general, given the key environmental roles that these organisms play. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Assessing the effects of metal contamination on taxis-to-food behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans Support Protocol 1: Synchronization of C. elegans by hand-picking gravid worms Support Protocol 2: Synchronization of C. elegans by using a bleaching solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libânia Queirós
- Department of Biology & CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luana Monteiro
- Marine Biology Research Group, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carlos Marques
- Department of Biology & CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana L Pereira
- Department of Biology & CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernando J M Gonçalves
- Department of Biology & CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- Department of Biology & CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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17
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Abstract
Mechanosensation such as touch, hearing and proprioception, is functionally regulated by mechano-gated ion channels through the process of transduction. Mechano-gated channels are a subtype of gated ion channels engaged in converting mechanical stimuli to chemical or electrical signals thereby modulating sensation. To date, a few families of mechano-gated channels (DEG/ENaC, TRPN, K2P, TMC and Piezo) have been identified in eukaryotes. Using a tractable genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the molecular mechanism of mechanosensation have been the focus of much research to comprehend the process of mechanotransduction. Comprising of almost all metazoans classes of ion channels, transporters and receptors, C. elegans is a powerful genetic model to explore mechanosensitive behaviors such as touch sensation and proprioception. The nematode relies primarily on its sensory abilities to survive in its natural environment. Genetic screening, calcium imaging and electrophysiological analysis have established that ENaC proteins and TRPN channel (TRP-4 protein) can characterize mechano-gated channels in C. elegans. A recent study reported that TMCs are likely the pore-forming subunit of a mechano-gated channel in C. elegans. Nevertheless, it still remains unclear whether Piezo as well as other candidate proteins can form mechano-gated channels in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Al-Sheikh
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
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18
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Ohnishi K, Saito S, Miura T, Ohta A, Tominaga M, Sokabe T, Kuhara A. OSM-9 and OCR-2 TRPV channels are accessorial warm receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans temperature acclimatisation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18566. [PMID: 33122746 PMCID: PMC7596061 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75302-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) exhibits cold tolerance and temperature acclimatisation regulated by a small number of head sensory neurons, such as the ADL temperature-sensing neurons that express three transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channel subunits, OSM-9, OCR-2, and OCR-1. Here, we show that an OSM-9/OCR-2 regulates temperature acclimatisation and acts as an accessorial warmth-sensing receptor in ADL neurons. Caenorhabditis elegans TRPV channel mutants showed abnormal temperature acclimatisation. Ectopic expression of OSM-9 and OCR-2 in non-warming-responsive gustatory neurons in C. elegans and Xenopus oocytes revealed that OSM-9 and OCR-2 cooperatively responded to warming; however, neither TRPV subunit alone was responsive to warming. A warming-induced OSM-9/OCR-2-mediated current was detectable in Xenopus oocytes, yet ADL in osm-9 ocr-2 double mutant responds to warming; therefore, an OSM-9/OCR-2 TRPV channel and as yet unidentified temperature receptor might coordinate transmission of temperature signalling in ADL temperature-sensing neurons. This study demonstrates direct sensation of warming by TRPV channels in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Ohnishi
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan.,Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan
| | - Shigeru Saito
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.,Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Toru Miura
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan
| | - Akane Ohta
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan.,Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan.,Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan
| | - Makoto Tominaga
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.,Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Takaaki Sokabe
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan. .,Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Kuhara
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan. .,Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan. .,Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, 658-8501, Japan. .,AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.
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19
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Alcedo J, Prahlad V. Neuromodulators: an essential part of survival. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:475-481. [PMID: 33170042 PMCID: PMC7811185 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1839066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The coordination between the animal's external environment and internal state requires constant modulation by chemicals known as neuromodulators. Neuromodulators, such as biogenic amines, neuropeptides and cytokines, promote organismal homeostasis. Over the past several decades, Caenorhabditiselegans has grown into a powerful model organism that allows the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of neuromodulators that are conserved across species. In this perspective, we highlight a collection of articles in this issue that describe how neuromodulators optimize C. elegans survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Alcedo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Veena Prahlad
- Department of Biology, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, and Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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