1
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Martin CG, Bent JS, Hill T, Topalidou I, Singhvi A. Epithelial UNC-23 limits mechanical stress to maintain glia-neuron architecture in C. elegans. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1668-1688.e7. [PMID: 38670103 PMCID: PMC11233253 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.04.005] [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: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
For an organ to maintain correct architecture and function, its diverse cellular components must coordinate their size and shape. Although cell-intrinsic mechanisms driving homotypic cell-cell coordination are known, it is unclear how cell shape is regulated across heterotypic cells. We find that epithelial cells maintain the shape of neighboring sense-organ glia-neuron units in adult Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Hsp co-chaperone UNC-23/BAG2 prevents epithelial cell shape from deforming, and its loss causes head epithelia to stretch aberrantly during animal movement. In the sense-organ glia, amphid sheath (AMsh), this causes progressive fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-dependent disruption of the glial apical cytoskeleton. Resultant glial cell shape alteration causes concomitant shape change in glia-associated neuron endings. Epithelial UNC-23 maintenance of glia-neuron shape is specific both spatially, within a defined anatomical zone, and temporally, in a developmentally critical period. As all molecular components uncovered are broadly conserved across central and peripheral nervous systems, we posit that epithelia may similarly regulate glia-neuron architecture cross-species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia G Martin
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James S Bent
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tyler Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Irini Topalidou
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Aakanksha Singhvi
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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2
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Li D, Chen D, Li W, Ou G. Inhibition of a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel on neuronal cilia activates unfolded protein response in intestinal cells to promote longevity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321228121. [PMID: 38857399 PMCID: PMC11194586 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321228121] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ciliary defects are linked to ciliopathies, but impairments in the sensory cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans neurons extend lifespan, a phenomenon with previously unclear mechanisms. Our study reveals that neuronal cilia defects trigger the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER) within intestinal cells, a process dependent on the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling transcription factor and the release of neuronal signaling molecules. While inhibiting UPRER doesn't alter the lifespan of wild-type worms, it normalizes the extended lifespan of ciliary mutants. Notably, deactivating the cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel TAX-4 on the ciliary membrane promotes lifespan extension through a UPRER-dependent mechanism. Conversely, constitutive activation of TAX-4 attenuates intestinal UPRER in ciliary mutants. Administering a CNG channel blocker to worm larvae activates intestinal UPRER and increases adult longevity. These findings suggest that ciliary dysfunction in sensory neurons triggers intestinal UPRER, contributing to lifespan extension and implying that transiently inhibiting ciliary channel activity may effectively prolong lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Di Chen
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangshuo Ou
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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3
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Hill TJ, Sengupta P. Feedforward and feedback mechanisms cooperatively regulate rapid experience-dependent response adaptation in a single thermosensory neuron type. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321430121. [PMID: 38530893 PMCID: PMC10998601 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321430121] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensory adaptation allows neurons to adjust their sensitivity and responses based on recent experience. The mechanisms that mediate continuous adaptation to stimulus history over seconds- to hours-long timescales, and whether these mechanisms can operate within a single sensory neuron type, are unclear. The single pair of AFD thermosensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits experience-dependent plasticity in their temperature response thresholds on both minutes- and hours-long timescales upon a temperature upshift. While long-term response adaptation requires changes in gene expression in AFD, the mechanisms driving rapid response plasticity are unknown. Here, we show that rapid thermosensory response adaptation in AFD is mediated via cGMP and calcium-dependent feedforward and feedback mechanisms operating at the level of primary thermotransduction. We find that either of two thermosensor receptor guanylyl cyclases (rGCs) alone is sufficient to drive rapid adaptation, but that each rGC drives adaptation at different rates. rGC-driven adaptation is mediated in part via phosphorylation of their intracellular domains, and calcium-dependent feedback regulation of basal cGMP levels via a neuronal calcium sensor protein. In turn, cGMP levels feedforward via cGMP-dependent protein kinases to phosphorylate a specific subunit of the cGMP-gated thermotransduction channel to further regulate rapid adaptation. Our results identify multiple molecular pathways that act in AFD to ensure rapid adaptation to a temperature change and indicate that the deployment of both transcriptional and nontranscriptional mechanisms within a single sensory neuron type can contribute to continuous sensory adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02454
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4
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McClure CR, Patel R, Hallem EA. Invade or die: behaviours and biochemical mechanisms that drive skin penetration in Strongyloides and other skin-penetrating nematodes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220434. [PMID: 38008119 PMCID: PMC10676818 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0434] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin-penetrating nematodes, including the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworms in the genera Necator and Ancylostoma, are gastrointestinal parasites that are a major cause of neglected tropical disease in low-resource settings worldwide. These parasites infect hosts as soil-dwelling infective larvae that navigate towards hosts using host-emitted sensory cues such as odorants and body heat. Upon host contact, they invade the host by penetrating through the skin. The process of skin penetration is critical for successful parasitism but remains poorly understood and understudied. Here, we review current knowledge of skin-penetration behaviour and its underlying mechanisms in the human parasite S. stercoralis, the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti, and other skin-penetrating nematodes such as hookworms. We also highlight important directions for future investigations into this underexplored process and discuss how recent advances in molecular genetic and genomic tools for Strongyloides species will enable mechanistic investigations of skin penetration and other essential parasitic behaviours in future studies. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Strongyloides: omics to worm-free populations'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R. McClure
- Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental PhD Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ruhi Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elissa A. Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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5
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Hill TJ, Sengupta P. Feedforward and feedback mechanisms cooperatively regulate rapid experience-dependent response adaptation in a single thermosensory neuron type. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570166. [PMID: 38168209 PMCID: PMC10760192 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Sensory adaptation allows neurons to adjust their sensitivity and responses based on recent experience. The mechanisms that mediate continuous adaptation to stimulus history over seconds to hours long timescales, and whether these mechanisms can operate within a single sensory neuron type, are unclear. The single pair of AFD thermosensory neurons in C. elegans exhibits experience-dependent plasticity in their temperature response thresholds on both minutes- and hours-long timescales upon a temperature upshift. While long-term response adaptation requires changes in gene expression in AFD, the mechanisms driving rapid response plasticity are unknown. Here, we show that rapid thermosensory response adaptation in AFD is mediated via cGMP and calcium-dependent feedforward and feedback mechanisms operating at the level of primary thermotransduction. We find that either of two thermosensor receptor guanylyl cyclases (rGCs) alone is sufficient to drive rapid adaptation, but that each rGC drives adaptation at different rates. rGC-driven adaptation is mediated in part via phosphorylation of their intracellular domains, and calcium-dependent feedback regulation of basal cGMP levels via a neuronal calcium sensor protein. In turn, cGMP levels feedforward via cGMP-dependent protein kinases to phosphorylate a specific subunit of the cGMP-gated thermotransduction channel to further regulate rapid adaptation. Our results identify multiple molecular pathways that act in AFD to ensure rapid adaptation to a temperature change, and indicate that the deployment of both transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms within a single sensory neuron type can contribute to continuous sensory adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454
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6
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Harris N, Bates SG, Zhuang Z, Bernstein M, Stonemetz JM, Hill TJ, Yu YV, Calarco JA, Sengupta P. Molecular encoding of stimulus features in a single sensory neuron type enables neuronal and behavioral plasticity. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1487-1501.e7. [PMID: 36977417 PMCID: PMC10133190 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Neurons modify their transcriptomes in response to an animal's experience. How specific experiences are transduced to modulate gene expression and precisely tune neuronal functions are not fully defined. Here, we describe the molecular profile of a thermosensory neuron pair in C. elegans experiencing different temperature stimuli. We find that distinct salient features of the temperature stimulus, including its duration, magnitude of change, and absolute value, are encoded in the gene expression program in this single neuron type, and we identify a novel transmembrane protein and a transcription factor whose specific transcriptional dynamics are essential to drive neuronal, behavioral, and developmental plasticity. Expression changes are driven by broadly expressed activity-dependent transcription factors and corresponding cis-regulatory elements that nevertheless direct neuron- and stimulus-specific gene expression programs. Our results indicate that coupling of defined stimulus characteristics to the gene regulatory logic in individual specialized neuron types can customize neuronal properties to drive precise behavioral adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
| | - Samuel G Bates
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Zihao Zhuang
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Matthew Bernstein
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Jamie M Stonemetz
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Tyler J Hill
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Yanxun V Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - John A Calarco
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord St., Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
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7
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Chaubey AH, Sojka SE, Onukwufor JO, Ezak MJ, Vandermeulen MD, Bowitch A, Vodičková A, Wojtovich AP, Ferkey DM. The Caenorhabditis elegans innexin INX-20 regulates nociceptive behavioral sensitivity. Genetics 2023; 223:iyad017. [PMID: 36753530 PMCID: PMC10319955 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Organisms rely on chemical cues in their environment to indicate the presence or absence of food, reproductive partners, predators, or other harmful stimuli. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the bilaterally symmetric pair of ASH sensory neurons serves as the primary nociceptors. ASH activation by aversive stimuli leads to backward locomotion and stimulus avoidance. We previously reported a role for guanylyl cyclases in dampening nociceptive sensitivity that requires an innexin-based gap junction network to pass cGMP between neurons. Here, we report that animals lacking function of the gap junction component INX-20 are hypersensitive in their behavioral response to both soluble and volatile chemical stimuli that signal through G protein-coupled receptor pathways in ASH. We find that expressing inx-20 in the ADL and AFD sensory neurons is sufficient to dampen ASH sensitivity, which is supported by new expression analysis of endogenous INX-20 tagged with mCherry via the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Although ADL does not form gap junctions directly with ASH, it does so via gap junctions with the interneuron RMG and the sensory neuron ASK. Ablating either ADL or RMG and ASK also resulted in nociceptive hypersensitivity, suggesting an important role for RMG/ASK downstream of ADL in the ASH modulatory circuit. This work adds to our growing understanding of the repertoire of ways by which ASH activity is regulated via its connectivity to other neurons and identifies a previously unknown role for ADL and RMG in the modulation of aversive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi H Chaubey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Savannah E Sojka
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - John O Onukwufor
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Meredith J Ezak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Matthew D Vandermeulen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Alexander Bowitch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Anežka Vodičková
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Andrew P Wojtovich
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Denise M Ferkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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8
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Harris N, Bates S, Zhuang Z, Bernstein M, Stonemetz J, Hill T, Yu YV, Calarco JA, Sengupta P. Molecular encoding of stimulus features in a single sensory neuron type enables neuronal and behavioral plasticity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.22.525070. [PMID: 36711719 PMCID: PMC9882311 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.22.525070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurons modify their transcriptomes in response to an animal’s experience. How specific experiences are transduced to modulate gene expression and precisely tune neuronal functions are not fully defined. Here, we describe the molecular profile of a thermosensory neuron pair in C. elegans experiencing different temperature stimuli. We find that distinct salient features of the temperature stimulus including its duration, magnitude of change, and absolute value are encoded in the gene expression program in this single neuron, and identify a novel transmembrane protein and a transcription factor whose specific transcriptional dynamics are essential to drive neuronal, behavioral, and developmental plasticity. Expression changes are driven by broadly expressed activity-dependent transcription factors and corresponding cis -regulatory elements that nevertheless direct neuron- and stimulus-specific gene expression programs. Our results indicate that coupling of defined stimulus characteristics to the gene regulatory logic in individual specialized neuron types can customize neuronal properties to drive precise behavioral adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Bates
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Zihao Zhuang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
- Current address: Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Jamie Stonemetz
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Tyler Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Yanxun V. Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - John A. Calarco
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
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9
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Aoki I, Shiota M, Tsukada Y, Nakano S, Mori I. cGMP dynamics that underlies thermosensation in temperature-sensing neuron regulates thermotaxis behavior in C. elegans. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278343. [PMID: 36472979 PMCID: PMC9725164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Living organisms including bacteria, plants and animals sense ambient temperature so that they can avoid noxious temperature or adapt to new environmental temperature. A nematode C. elegans can sense innocuous temperature, and navigate themselves towards memorize past cultivation temperature (Tc) of their preference. For this thermotaxis, AFD thermosensory neuron is pivotal, which stereotypically responds to warming by increasing intracellular Ca2+ level in a manner dependent on the remembered past Tc. We aimed to reveal how AFD encodes the information of temperature into neural activities. cGMP synthesis in AFD is crucial for thermosensation in AFD and thermotaxis behavior. Here we characterized the dynamic change of cGMP level in AFD by imaging animals expressing a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cGMP probe specifically in AFD and found that cGMP dynamically responded to both warming and cooling in a manner dependent on past Tc. Moreover, we characterized mutant animals that lack guanylyl cyclases (GCYs) or phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which synthesize and hydrolyze cGMP, respectively, and uncovered how GCYs and PDEs contribute to cGMP and Ca2+ dynamics in AFD and to thermotaxis behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Aoki
- Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Makoto Shiota
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Tsukada
- Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shunji Nakano
- Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ikue Mori
- Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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10
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Mendez P, Walsh B, Hallem EA. Using newly optimized genetic tools to probe Strongyloides sensory behaviors. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 250:111491. [PMID: 35697205 PMCID: PMC9339661 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The oft-neglected human-parasitic threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, infects roughly eight percent of the global population, placing disproportionate medical and economic burden upon marginalized communities. While current chemotherapies treat strongyloidiasis, disease recrudescence and the looming threat of anthelminthic resistance necessitate novel strategies for nematode control. Throughout its life cycle, S. stercoralis relies upon sensory cues to aid in environmental navigation and coordinate developmental progression. Odorants, tastants, gases, and temperature have been shown to shape parasite behaviors that drive host seeking and infectivity; however, many of these sensory behaviors remain poorly understood, and their underlying molecular and neural mechanisms are largely uncharacterized. Disruption of sensory circuits essential to parasitism presents a promising strategy for future interventions. In this review, we describe our current understanding of sensory behaviors - namely olfactory, gustatory, gas sensing, and thermosensory behaviors - in Strongyloides spp. We also highlight the ever-growing cache of genetic tools optimized for use in Strongyloides that have facilitated these findings, including transgenesis, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis, RNAi, chemogenetic neuronal silencing, and the use of fluorescent biosensors to measure neuronal activity. Bolstered by these tools, we are poised to enter an era of rapid discovery in Strongyloides sensory neurobiology, which has the potential to shape pioneering advances in the prevention and treatment of strongyloidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Mendez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Breanna Walsh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Elissa A Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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11
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Shah P, Bao Z, Zaidel-Bar R. Visualizing and quantifying molecular and cellular processes in C. elegans using light microscopy. Genetics 2022; 221:6619563. [PMID: 35766819 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac068] [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: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Light microscopes are the cell and developmental biologists' "best friend", providing a means to see structures and follow dynamics from the protein to the organism level. A huge advantage of C. elegans as a model organism is its transparency, which coupled with its small size means that nearly every biological process can be observed and measured with the appropriate probe and light microscope. Continuous improvement in microscope technologies along with novel genome editing techniques to create transgenic probes have facilitated the development and implementation of a dizzying array of methods for imaging worm embryos, larvae and adults. In this review we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular processes that can be visualized in living worms using light microscopy. A partial inventory of fluorescent probes and techniques successfully used in worms to image the dynamics of cells, organelles, DNA, and protein localization and activity is followed by a practical guide to choosing between various imaging modalities, including widefield, confocal, lightsheet, and structured illumination microscopy. Finally, we discuss the available tools and approaches, including machine learning, for quantitative image analysis tasks, such as colocalization, segmentation, object tracking, and lineage tracing. Hopefully, this review will inspire worm researchers who have not yet imaged their worms to begin, and push those who are imaging to go faster, finer, and longer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavak Shah
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Zhirong Bao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Ronen Zaidel-Bar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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12
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ROS and cGMP signaling modulate persistent escape from hypoxia in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001684. [PMID: 35727855 PMCID: PMC9249223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to detect and respond to acute oxygen (O2) shortages is indispensable to aerobic life. The molecular mechanisms and circuits underlying this capacity are poorly understood. Here, we characterize the behavioral responses of feeding Caenorhabditis elegans to approximately 1% O2. Acute hypoxia triggers a bout of turning maneuvers followed by a persistent switch to rapid forward movement as animals seek to avoid and escape hypoxia. While the behavioral responses to 1% O2 closely resemble those evoked by 21% O2, they have distinct molecular and circuit underpinnings. Disrupting phosphodiesterases (PDEs), specific G proteins, or BBSome function inhibits escape from 1% O2 due to increased cGMP signaling. A primary source of cGMP is GCY-28, the ortholog of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor. cGMP activates the protein kinase G EGL-4 and enhances neuroendocrine secretion to inhibit acute responses to 1% O2. Triggering a rise in cGMP optogenetically in multiple neurons, including AIA interneurons, rapidly and reversibly inhibits escape from 1% O2. Ca2+ imaging reveals that a 7% to 1% O2 stimulus evokes a Ca2+ decrease in several neurons. Defects in mitochondrial complex I (MCI) and mitochondrial complex I (MCIII), which lead to persistently high reactive oxygen species (ROS), abrogate acute hypoxia responses. In particular, repressing the expression of isp-1, which encodes the iron sulfur protein of MCIII, inhibits escape from 1% O2 without affecting responses to 21% O2. Both genetic and pharmacological up-regulation of mitochondrial ROS increase cGMP levels, which contribute to the reduced hypoxia responses. Our results implicate ROS and precise regulation of intracellular cGMP in the modulation of acute responses to hypoxia by C. elegans. The ability to detect and respond to acute oxygen shortages is indispensable to aerobic life, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this capacity are poorly understood. This study reveals that high levels of cGMP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) prevent the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans from escaping hypoxia.
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13
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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: 4.3] [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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14
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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: 0.3] [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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15
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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: 1.0] [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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16
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Chen AJ, Zuazo C, Mellman K, Chandra R, L'Etoile N. C. elegans show Preference for Pseudomonas mendocina (MSPm1) and Proteus mirabilis ( P. mirabilis sp?) , and Repulsion to Pseudomonas lurida (MYb11); Growth on Pseudomonas mendocina (MSPm1) Increases Attraction to 2-nonanone. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000535. [PMID: 35622520 PMCID: PMC9010113 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
C. elegans’
experiences and microbiome have been shown to shape its responses to certain stimuli; a recent study found that
C. elegans
grown on
Providencia alcalifaciens
JUb39 exhibited increased attraction to that same growth bacteria while also lowered repulsion to the odor 1-octanol (O’Donnell et al. 2020). This prompted us to ask whether other strains of bacteria could likewise alter
C. elegans’
responses to bacterial food and volatile chemicals. So, to expand upon current knowledge, we cultured wild-type
C. elegans
(N2) on an unidentified
Escherichia coli
(
E. coli
sp?),
Pseudomonas mendocina
(MSPm1),
Pseudomonas lurida
(MYb11),
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
(JUb19), or
Proteus mirabilis
strain (
P. mirabilis
sp?). After several generations, we examined how their choice of bacterial food was affected. In addition, we looked at their response to the olfactory stimuli 2-butanone; 2,3-butanedione; 2,3-pentanedione; and 2-nonanone, as well as their response to the gustatory stimulus sodium chloride. Interestingly, we found that growth on any of these bacterial strains led to their bacterial preferences and behavioral responses to 2-butanone; 2,3-pentanedione; diacetyl; and sodium chloride remaining unchanged. However, we also saw that
C. elegans
showed a preference for MSPm1 and
P. mirabilis
sp? to HB101, and HB101 to
MYb11. Furthermore, worms that are grown on MSPm1 showed stronger attraction to a 1:10 dilution of 2-nonanone (AWB-sensed odorant) as compared to worms grown on the other bacterial strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec J Chen
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco
,
Johns Hopkins Undergraduate
| | - Carlos Zuazo
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Katie Mellman
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Rashmi Chandra
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Noelle L'Etoile
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco
,
Correspondence to: Noelle L'Etoile (
)
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17
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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: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [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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18
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Henß T, Nagpal J, Gao S, Scheib U, Pieragnolo A, Hirschhäuser A, Schneider-Warme F, Hegemann P, Nagel G, Gottschalk A. Optogenetic tools for manipulation of cyclic nucleotides functionally coupled to cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:2519-2537. [PMID: 33733470 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP are ubiquitous second messengers regulating numerous biological processes. Malfunctional cNMP signalling is linked to diseases and thus is an important target in pharmaceutical research. The existing optogenetic toolbox in Caenorhabditis elegans is restricted to soluble adenylyl cyclases, the membrane-bound Blastocladiella emersonii CyclOp and hyperpolarizing rhodopsins; yet missing are membrane-bound photoactivatable adenylyl cyclases and hyperpolarizers based on K+ currents. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH For the characterization of photoactivatable nucleotidyl cyclases, we expressed the proteins alone or in combination with cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in muscle cells and cholinergic motor neurons. To investigate the extent of optogenetic cNMP production and the ability of the systems to depolarize or hyperpolarize cells, we performed behavioural analyses, measured cNMP content in vitro, and compared in vivo expression levels. KEY RESULTS We implemented Catenaria CyclOp as a new tool for cGMP production, allowing fine-control of cGMP levels. We established photoactivatable membrane-bound adenylyl cyclases, based on mutated versions ("A-2x") of Blastocladiella and Catenaria ("Be," "Ca") CyclOp, as N-terminal YFP fusions, enabling more efficient and specific cAMP signalling compared to soluble bPAC, despite lower overall cAMP production. For hyperpolarization of excitable cells by two-component optogenetics, we introduced the cAMP-gated K+ -channel SthK from Spirochaeta thermophila and combined it with bPAC, BeCyclOp(A-2x), or YFP-BeCyclOp(A-2x). As an alternative, we implemented the B. emersonii cGMP-gated K+ -channel BeCNG1 together with BeCyclOp. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We established a comprehensive suite of optogenetic tools for cNMP manipulation, applicable in many cell types, including sensory neurons, and for potent hyperpolarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo Henß
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jatin Nagpal
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Shiqiang Gao
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Biocentre, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Scheib
- Institute for Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Lead Discovery, Protein Technology, NUVISAN ICB GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Hirschhäuser
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Schneider-Warme
- University Heart Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Institute for Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Nagel
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Biocentre, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Gottschalk
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
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19
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van der Burght SN, Rademakers S, Johnson JL, Li C, Kremers GJ, Houtsmuller AB, Leroux MR, Jansen G. Ciliary Tip Signaling Compartment Is Formed and Maintained by Intraflagellar Transport. Curr Biol 2020; 30:4299-4306.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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20
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Tian Y, Yang S, Gao S. Advances, Perspectives and Potential Engineering Strategies of Light-Gated Phosphodiesterases for Optogenetic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7544. [PMID: 33066112 PMCID: PMC7590022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The second messengers, cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cGMP), play important roles in many animal cells by regulating intracellular signaling pathways and modulating cell physiology. Environmental cues like temperature, light, and chemical compounds can stimulate cell surface receptors and trigger the generation of second messengers and the following regulations. The spread of cAMP and cGMP is further shaped by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) for orchestration of intracellular microdomain signaling. However, localized intracellular cAMP and cGMP signaling requires further investigation. Optogenetic manipulation of cAMP and cGMP offers new opportunities for spatio-temporally precise study of their signaling mechanism. Light-gated nucleotide cyclases are well developed and applied for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. Recently discovered rhodopsin phosphodiesterase genes from protists established a new and direct biological connection between light and PDEs. Light-regulated PDEs are under development, and of demand to complete the toolkit for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. In this review, we summarize the state of the art, pros and cons of artificial and natural light-regulated PDEs, and discuss potential new strategies of developing light-gated PDEs for optogenetic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shiqiang Gao
- Department of Neurophysiology, Physiological Institute, University of Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany; (Y.T.); (S.Y.)
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21
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Jin EJ, Park S, Lyu X, Jin Y. Gap junctions: historical discoveries and new findings in the Caenorhabditiselegans nervous system. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio053983. [PMID: 32883654 PMCID: PMC7489761 DOI: 10.1242/bio.053983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions are evolutionarily conserved structures at close membrane contacts between two cells. In the nervous system, they mediate rapid, often bi-directional, transmission of signals through channels called innexins in invertebrates and connexins in vertebrates. Connectomic studies from Caenorhabditis elegans have uncovered a vast number of gap junctions present in the nervous system and non-neuronal tissues. The genome also has 25 innexin genes that are expressed in spatial and temporal dynamic pattern. Recent findings have begun to reveal novel roles of innexins in the regulation of multiple processes during formation and function of neural circuits both in normal conditions and under stress. Here, we highlight the diverse roles of gap junctions and innexins in the C. elegans nervous system. These findings contribute to fundamental understanding of gap junctions in all animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Jennifer Jin
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Seungmee Park
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Xiaohui Lyu
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yishi Jin
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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22
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Haselden WD, Kedarasetti RT, Drew PJ. Spatial and temporal patterns of nitric oxide diffusion and degradation drive emergent cerebrovascular dynamics. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008069. [PMID: 32716940 PMCID: PMC7410342 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that plays an important role in neurovascular coupling. NO produced by neurons diffuses into the smooth muscle surrounding cerebral arterioles, driving vasodilation. However, the rate of NO degradation in hemoglobin is orders of magnitude higher than in brain tissue, though how this might impact NO signaling dynamics is not completely understood. We used simulations to investigate how the spatial and temporal patterns of NO generation and degradation impacted dilation of a penetrating arteriole in cortex. We found that the spatial location of NO production and the size of the vessel both played an important role in determining its responsiveness to NO. The much higher rate of NO degradation and scavenging of NO in the blood relative to the tissue drove emergent vascular dynamics. Large vasodilation events could be followed by post-stimulus constrictions driven by the increased degradation of NO by the blood, and vasomotion-like 0.1-0.3 Hz oscillations could also be generated. We found that these dynamics could be enhanced by elevation of free hemoglobin in the plasma, which occurs in diseases such as malaria and sickle cell anemia, or following blood transfusions. Finally, we show that changes in blood flow during hypoxia or hyperoxia could be explained by altered NO degradation in the parenchyma. Our simulations suggest that many common vascular dynamics may be emergent phenomena generated by NO degradation by the blood or parenchyma.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Davis Haselden
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ravi Teja Kedarasetti
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Patrick J. Drew
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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23
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Takeishi A, Takagaki N, Kuhara A. Temperature signaling underlying thermotaxis and cold tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:351-362. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1734001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Takeishi
- Neural Circuit of Multisensory Integration RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR), RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS), Wako, Japan
| | - Natsune Takagaki
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuhara
- Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
- AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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24
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Voelker L, Upadhyaya B, Ferkey DM, Woldemariam S, L’Etoile ND, Rabinowitch I, Bai J. INX-18 and INX-19 play distinct roles in electrical synapses that modulate aversive behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008341. [PMID: 31658255 PMCID: PMC6837551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to respond to changing environments and fluctuations in internal states, animals adjust their behavior through diverse neuromodulatory mechanisms. In this study we show that electrical synapses between the ASH primary quinine-detecting sensory neurons and the neighboring ASK neurons are required for modulating the aversive response to the bitter tastant quinine in C. elegans. Mutant worms that lack the electrical synapse proteins INX-18 and INX-19 become hypersensitive to dilute quinine. Cell-specific rescue experiments indicate that inx-18 operates in ASK while inx-19 is required in both ASK and ASH for proper quinine sensitivity. Imaging analyses find that INX-19 in ASK and ASH localizes to the same regions in the nerve ring, suggesting that both sides of ASK-ASH electrical synapses contain INX-19. While inx-18 and inx-19 mutant animals have a similar behavioral phenotype, several lines of evidence suggest the proteins encoded by these genes play different roles in modulating the aversive quinine response. First, INX-18 and INX-19 localize to different regions of the nerve ring, indicating that they are not present in the same synapses. Second, removing inx-18 disrupts the distribution of INX-19, while removing inx-19 does not alter INX-18 localization. Finally, by using a fluorescent cGMP reporter, we find that INX-18 and INX-19 have distinct roles in establishing cGMP levels in ASK and ASH. Together, these results demonstrate that electrical synapses containing INX-18 and INX-19 facilitate modulation of ASH nociceptive signaling. Our findings support the idea that a network of electrical synapses mediates cGMP exchange between neurons, enabling modulation of sensory responses and behavior. Animals are constantly adjusting their behavior to respond to changes in the environment or to their internal state. This behavior modulation is achieved by altering the activity of neurons and circuits through a variety of neuroplasticity mechanisms. Chemical synapses are known to impact neuroplasticity in several different ways, but the diversity of mechanisms by which electrical synapses contribute is still being investigated. Electrical synapses are specialized sites of connection between neurons where ions and small signaling molecules can pass directly from one cell to the next. By passing small molecules through electrical synapses, neurons may be able to modify the activity of their neighbors. In this study we identify two genes that contribute to electrical synapses between two sensory neurons in C. elegans. We show that these electrical synapses are crucial for proper modulation of sensory responses, as without them animals are overly responsive to an aversive stimulus. In addition to pinpointing their sites of action, we present evidence that they may be contributing to neuromodulation by facilitating passage of the small molecule cGMP between neurons. Our work provides evidence for a role of electrical synapses in regulating animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Voelker
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Bishal Upadhyaya
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Denise M. Ferkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States of America
| | - Sarah Woldemariam
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Noelle D. L’Etoile
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Ithai Rabinowitch
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Faculty of Medicine Hebrew, University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jihong Bai
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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