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Cohen SM, Wrobel CJJ, Prakash SJ, Schroeder FC, Sternberg PW. Formation and function of dauer ascarosides in the nematodes Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6517505. [PMID: 35094091 PMCID: PMC8895998 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The biosynthetic pathways and functions of ascaroside signaling molecules in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been studied to better understand complex, integrative developmental decision-making. Although it is known that ascarosides play multiple roles in the development and behavior of nematode species other than C. elegans, these parallel pheromone systems have not been well-studied. Here, we show that ascarosides in the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae are biosynthesized in the same manner as C. elegans and act to induce the alternative developmental pathway that generates the stress-resistant dauer lifestage. We show that ascr#2 is the primary component of crude dauer pheromone in C. briggsae; in contrast, C. elegans dauer pheromone relies on a combination of ascr#2, ascr#3, and several other components. We further demonstrate that Cbr-daf-22, like its C. elegans ortholog Cel-daf-22, is necessary to produce short-chain ascarosides. Moreover, Cbr-daf-22 and Cel-daf-22 mutants produce an ascaroside-independent metabolite that acts antagonistically to crude dauer pheromone and inhibits dauer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Cohen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Chester J J Wrobel
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sharan J Prakash
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Paul W Sternberg
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Lim J, Kim J, Lee J. Natural variation in reproductive timing and X-chromosome non-disjunction in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6373895. [PMID: 34550364 PMCID: PMC8664432 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab327] [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: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites first produce a limited number of sperm cells, before their germline switches to oogenesis. Production of progeny then ensues until sperm is depleted. Male production in the self-progeny of hermaphrodites occurs following X-chromosome non-disjunction during gametogenesis, and in the reference strain increases with age of the hermaphrodite parent. To enhance our understanding of the reproductive timecourse in Caenorhabditis elegans, we measured and compared progeny production and male proportion during the early and late reproductive periods of hermaphrodites for 96 wild Caenorhabditis elegans strains. We found that the two traits exhibited natural phenotypic variation with few outliers and a similar reproductive timing pattern as previous reports. Progeny number and male proportion were not correlated in the wild isolates, implying that isolates with a large brood size did not produce males at a higher rate. We also identified loci and candidate genetic variants significantly associated with male-production rate in the late and total reproductive periods. Our results provide an insight into life history traits in wild Caenorhabditis elegans strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiseon Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
| | - Jun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826.,Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
| | - Junho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826.,Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826.,Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea 08826
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3
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Ferkey DM, Sengupta P, L’Etoile ND. Chemosensory signal transduction in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2021; 217:iyab004. [PMID: 33693646 PMCID: PMC8045692 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory neurons translate perception of external chemical cues, including odorants, tastants, and pheromones, into information that drives attraction or avoidance motor programs. In the laboratory, robust behavioral assays, coupled with powerful genetic, molecular and optical tools, have made Caenorhabditis elegans an ideal experimental system in which to dissect the contributions of individual genes and neurons to ethologically relevant chemosensory behaviors. Here, we review current knowledge of the neurons, signal transduction molecules and regulatory mechanisms that underlie the response of C. elegans to chemicals, including pheromones. The majority of identified molecules and pathways share remarkable homology with sensory mechanisms in other organisms. With the development of new tools and technologies, we anticipate that continued study of chemosensory signal transduction and processing in C. elegans will yield additional new insights into the mechanisms by which this animal is able to detect and discriminate among thousands of chemical cues with a limited sensory neuron repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M Ferkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Noelle D L’Etoile
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Zhao M, Wickham JD, Zhao L, Sun J. Major ascaroside pheromone component asc-C5 influences reproductive plasticity among isolates of the invasive species pinewood nematode. Integr Zool 2020; 16:893-907. [PMID: 33264496 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Pheromones are communication chemicals and regulatory signals used by animals and represent unique tools for organisms to mediate behaviors and make "decisions" to maximize their fitness. Phenotypic plasticity refers to the innate capacity of a species to tolerate a greater breadth of environmental conditions across which it adapts to improve its survival, reproduction, and fitness. The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, an invasive nematode species, was accidentally introduced from North America into Japan, China, and Europe; however, few studies have investigated its pheromones and phenotypic plasticity as a natural model. Here, we demonstrated a novel phenomenon, in which nematodes under the condition of pheromone presence triggered increased reproduction in invasive strains (JP1, JP2, CN1, CN2, EU1, and EU2), while it simultaneously decreased reproduction in native strains (US1 and US2). The bidirectional effect on fecundity, mediated by presence/absence of pheromones, is henceforth termed pheromone-regulative reproductive plasticity (PRRP). We further found that synthetic ascaroside asc-C5 (ascr#9), the major pheromone component, plays a leading role in PRRP and identified 2 candidate receptor genes, Bxydaf-38 and Bxysrd-10, involved in perceiving asc-C5. These results suggest that plasticity of reproductive responses to pheromones in pinewood nematode may increase its fitness in novel environments following introduction. This opens up a new perspective for invasion biology and presents a novel strategy of invasion, suggesting that pheromones, in addition to their traditional roles in chemical signaling, can influence the reproductive phenotype among native and invasive isolates. In addition, this novel mechanism could broadly explain, through comparative studies of native and invasive populations of animals, a potential underlying factor behind of the success of other biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jacob D Wickham
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lilin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Ascaroside Pheromones: Chemical Biology and Pleiotropic Neuronal Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20163898. [PMID: 31405082 PMCID: PMC6719183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20163898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/1970] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromones are neuronal signals that stimulate conspecific individuals to react to environmental stressors or stimuli. Research on the ascaroside (ascr) pheromones in Caenorhabditis elegans and other nematodes has made great progress since ascr#1 was first isolated and biochemically defined in 2005. In this review, we highlight the current research on the structural diversity, biosynthesis, and pleiotropic neuronal functions of ascr pheromones and their implications in animal physiology. Experimental evidence suggests that ascr biosynthesis starts with conjugation of ascarylose to very long-chain fatty acids that are then processed via peroxisomal β-oxidation to yield diverse ascr pheromones. We also discuss the concentration and stage-dependent pleiotropic neuronal functions of ascr pheromones. These functions include dauer induction, lifespan extension, repulsion, aggregation, mating, foraging and detoxification, among others. These roles are carried out in coordination with three G protein-coupled receptors that function as putative pheromone receptors: SRBC-64/66, SRG-36/37, and DAF-37/38. Pheromone sensing is transmitted in sensory neurons via DAF-16-regulated glutamatergic neurotransmitters. Neuronal peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation has important cell-autonomous functions in the regulation of neuroendocrine signaling, including neuroprotection. In the future, translation of our knowledge of nematode ascr pheromones to higher animals might be beneficial, as ascr#1 has some anti-inflammatory effects in mice. To this end, we propose the establishment of pheromics (pheromone omics) as a new subset of integrated disciplinary research area within chemical ecology for system-wide investigation of animal pheromones.
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Dong C, Reilly DK, Bergame C, Dolke F, Srinivasan J, von Reuss SH. Comparative Ascaroside Profiling of Caenorhabditis Exometabolomes Reveals Species-Specific (ω) and (ω - 2)-Hydroxylation Downstream of Peroxisomal β-Oxidation. J Org Chem 2018; 83:7109-7120. [PMID: 29480728 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication in nematodes such as the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is modulated by a variety of glycosides based on the dideoxysugar l-ascarylose. Comparative ascaroside profiling of nematode exometabolome extracts using a GC-EIMS screen reveals that several basic components including ascr#1 (asc-C7), ascr#2 (asc-C6-MK), ascr#3 (asc-ΔC9), ascr#5 (asc-ωC3), and ascr#10 (asc-C9) are highly conserved among the Caenorhabditis. Three novel side chain hydroxylated ascaroside derivatives were exclusively detected in the distantly related C. nigoni and C. afra. Molecular structures of these species-specific putative signaling molecules were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by total synthesis and chemical correlations. Biological activities were evaluated using attraction assays. The identification of (ω)- and (ω - 2)-hydroxyacyl ascarosides demonstrates how GC-EIMS-based ascaroside profiling facilitates the detection of novel ascaroside components and exemplifies how species-specific hydroxylation of ascaroside aglycones downstream of peroxisomal β-oxidation increases the structural diversity of this highly conserved class of nematode signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanfu Dong
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knoell Strasse 8 , D-07745 Jena , Germany.,Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology , Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology , Max-Planck-Ring 9 , D-72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Douglas K Reilly
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , 60 Prescott Street , Worcester , Massachusetts 01605 , United States
| | - Célia Bergame
- Laboratory of Bioanalytical Chemistry , University of Neuchatel , Avenue de Bellevaux 51 , CH-2000 Neuchâtel , Switzerland
| | - Franziska Dolke
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knoell Strasse 8 , D-07745 Jena , Germany
| | - Jagan Srinivasan
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , 60 Prescott Street , Worcester , Massachusetts 01605 , United States
| | - Stephan H von Reuss
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knoell Strasse 8 , D-07745 Jena , Germany.,Laboratory of Bioanalytical Chemistry , University of Neuchatel , Avenue de Bellevaux 51 , CH-2000 Neuchâtel , Switzerland
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Viney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Harvey
- School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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