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Sala AJ, Grant RA, Imran G, Morton C, Brielmann RM, Gorgoń S, Watts J, Bott LC, Morimoto RI. Nuclear receptor signaling via NHR-49/MDT-15 regulates stress resilience and proteostasis in response to reproductive and metabolic cues. Genes Dev 2024; 38:380-392. [PMID: 38816072 PMCID: PMC11216168 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351829.124] [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: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The ability to sense and respond to proteotoxic insults declines with age, leaving cells vulnerable to chronic and acute stressors. Reproductive cues modulate this decline in cellular proteostasis to influence organismal stress resilience in Caenorhabditis elegans We previously uncovered a pathway that links the integrity of developing embryos to somatic health in reproductive adults. Here, we show that the nuclear receptor NHR-49, an ortholog of mammalian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), regulates stress resilience and proteostasis downstream from embryo integrity and other pathways that influence lipid homeostasis and upstream of HSF-1. Disruption of the vitelline layer of the embryo envelope, which activates a proteostasis-enhancing intertissue pathway in somatic cells, triggers changes in lipid catabolism gene expression that are accompanied by an increase in fat stores. NHR-49, together with its coactivator, MDT-15, contributes to this remodeling of lipid metabolism and is also important for the elevated stress resilience mediated by inhibition of the embryonic vitelline layer. Our findings indicate that NHR-49 also contributes to stress resilience in other pathways known to change lipid homeostasis, including reduced insulin-like signaling and fasting, and that increased NHR-49 activity is sufficient to improve proteostasis and stress resilience in an HSF-1-dependent manner. Together, our results establish NHR-49 as a key regulator that links lipid homeostasis and cellular resilience to proteotoxic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambre J Sala
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA;
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
| | - Rogan A Grant
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Ghania Imran
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Claire Morton
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Renee M Brielmann
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Szymon Gorgoń
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette 91190, France
| | - Jennifer Watts
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
| | - Laura C Bott
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Richard I Morimoto
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA;
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2
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Wang Y, Zhang H, Ding F, Li J, Li L, Xu Z, Zhao Y. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate amyloid-beta-induced toxicity in AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans via promotion of proteasomal activity and activation of PPAR-gamma. J Nutr Biochem 2024; 127:109603. [PMID: 38373507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2024.109603] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive cognitive decline. A major pathological characteristic of AD brain is the presence of senile plaques composed of β-amyloid (Aβ), the accumulation of which induces toxic cascades leading to synaptic dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, and eventually cognitive decline. Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for patients with early-stage AD; however, the mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced toxicity in a transgenic AD Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. The results showed that EPA and DHA significantly inhibited Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and decreased the production of reactive oxygen species while reducing the levels of Aβ in the AD worms. Further studies revealed that EPA and DHA might reduce the accumulation of Aβ by restoring the activity of proteasome. Moreover, treating worms with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ inhibitor GW9662 prevented the inhibitory effects of n-3 PUFAs on Aβ-induced paralytic phenotype and diminished the elevation of proteasomal activity by n-3 PUFAs, suggesting that PPARγ-mediated signals play important role in the protective effects of n-3 PUFAs against Aβ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Huanying Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Lianyu Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
| | - Zhong Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, Shandong, China.
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3
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Vergani-Junior CA, Moro RDP, Pinto S, De-Souza EA, Camara H, Braga DL, Tonon-da-Silva G, Knittel TL, Ruiz GP, Ludwig RG, Massirer KB, Mair WB, Mori MA. An Intricate Network Involving the Argonaute ALG-1 Modulates Organismal Resistance to Oxidative Stress. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3070. [PMID: 38594249 PMCID: PMC11003958 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47306-4] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular response to redox imbalance is crucial for organismal health. microRNAs are implicated in stress responses. ALG-1, the C. elegans ortholog of human AGO2, plays an essential role in microRNA processing and function. Here we investigated the mechanisms governing ALG-1 expression in C. elegans and the players controlling lifespan and stress resistance downstream of ALG-1. We show that upregulation of ALG-1 is a shared feature in conditions linked to increased longevity (e.g., germline-deficient glp-1 mutants). ALG-1 knockdown reduces lifespan and oxidative stress resistance, while overexpression enhances survival against pro-oxidant agents but not heat or reductive stress. R02D3.7 represses alg-1 expression, impacting oxidative stress resistance at least in part via ALG-1. microRNAs upregulated in glp-1 mutants (miR-87-3p, miR-230-3p, and miR-235-3p) can target genes in the protein disulfide isomerase pathway and protect against oxidative stress. This study unveils a tightly regulated network involving transcription factors and microRNAs which controls organisms' ability to withstand oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Vergani-Junior
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raíssa De P Moro
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silas Pinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Evandro A De-Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrique Camara
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Section on Integrative Physiology & Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deisi L Braga
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Tonon-da-Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago L Knittel
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel P Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raissa G Ludwig
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katlin B Massirer
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Medicinal Chemistry (CQMED), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - William B Mair
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Experimental Medicine Research Cluster (EMRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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4
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Pires da Silva A, Kelleher R, Reynoldson L. Decoding lifespan secrets: the role of the gonad in Caenorhabditis elegans aging. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1380016. [PMID: 38605866 PMCID: PMC11008531 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1380016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The gonad has become a central organ for understanding aging in C. elegans, as removing the proliferating stem cells in the germline results in significant lifespan extension. Similarly, when starvation in late larval stages leads to the quiescence of germline stem cells the adult nematode enters reproductive diapause, associated with an extended lifespan. This review summarizes recent advancements in identifying the mechanisms behind gonad-mediated lifespan extension, including comparisons with other nematodes and the role of lipid signaling and transcriptional changes. Given that the gonad also mediates lifespan regulation in other invertebrates and vertebrates, elucidating the underlying mechanisms may help to gain new insights into the mechanisms and evolution of aging.
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5
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Turner CD, Ramos CM, Curran SP. Disrupting the SKN-1 homeostat: mechanistic insights and phenotypic outcomes. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1369740. [PMID: 38501033 PMCID: PMC10944932 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1369740] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The mechanisms that govern maintenance of cellular homeostasis are crucial to the lifespan and healthspan of all living systems. As an organism ages, there is a gradual decline in cellular homeostasis that leads to senescence and death. As an organism lives into advanced age, the cells within will attempt to abate age-related decline by enhancing the activity of cellular stress pathways. The regulation of cellular stress responses by transcription factors SKN-1/Nrf2 is a well characterized pathway in which cellular stress, particularly xenobiotic stress, is abated by SKN-1/Nrf2-mediated transcriptional activation of the Phase II detoxification pathway. However, SKN-1/Nrf2 also regulates a multitude of other processes including development, pathogenic stress responses, proteostasis, and lipid metabolism. While this process is typically tightly regulated, constitutive activation of SKN-1/Nrf2 is detrimental to organismal health, this raises interesting questions surrounding the tradeoff between SKN-1/Nrf2 cryoprotection and cellular health and the ability of cells to deactivate stress response pathways post stress. Recent work has determined that transcriptional programs of SKN-1 can be redirected or suppressed to abate negative health outcomes of constitutive activation. Here we will detail the mechanisms by which SKN-1 is controlled, which are important for our understanding of SKN-1/Nrf2 cytoprotection across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Turner
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Carmen M. Ramos
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Department of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sean P. Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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6
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Sharifi S, Chaudhari P, Martirosyan A, Eberhardt AO, Witt F, Gollowitzer A, Lange L, Woitzat Y, Okoli EM, Li H, Rahnis N, Kirkpatrick J, Werz O, Ori A, Koeberle A, Bierhoff H, Ermolaeva M. Reducing the metabolic burden of rRNA synthesis promotes healthy longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1702. [PMID: 38402241 PMCID: PMC10894287 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46037-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosome biogenesis is initiated by RNA polymerase I (Pol I)-mediated synthesis of pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA). Pol I activity was previously linked to longevity, but the underlying mechanisms were not studied beyond effects on nucleolar structure and protein translation. Here we use multi-omics and functional tests to show that curtailment of Pol I activity remodels the lipidome and preserves mitochondrial function to promote longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Reduced pre-rRNA synthesis improves energy homeostasis and metabolic plasticity also in human primary cells. Conversely, the enhancement of pre-rRNA synthesis boosts growth and neuromuscular performance of young nematodes at the cost of accelerated metabolic decline, mitochondrial stress and premature aging. Moreover, restriction of Pol I activity extends lifespan more potently than direct repression of protein synthesis, and confers geroprotection even when initiated late in life, showcasing this intervention as an effective longevity and metabolic health treatment not limited by aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samim Sharifi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, Jena, 07745, Germany
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Matter Bio, Inc., Brooklyn, NY, 11237, USA
| | - Prerana Chaudhari
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Asya Martirosyan
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 26, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Otto Eberhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Finja Witt
- Michael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - André Gollowitzer
- Michael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lisa Lange
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, Jena, 07745, Germany
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Yvonne Woitzat
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Huahui Li
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Norman Rahnis
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Joanna Kirkpatrick
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Werz
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 14, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Alessandro Ori
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Andreas Koeberle
- Michael Popp Institute and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Holger Bierhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, Jena, 07745, Germany.
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.
| | - Maria Ermolaeva
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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7
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Wei H, Weaver YM, Yang C, Zhang Y, Hu G, Karner CM, Sieber M, DeBerardinis RJ, Weaver BP. Proteolytic activation of fatty acid synthase signals pan-stress resolution. Nat Metab 2024; 6:113-126. [PMID: 38167727 PMCID: PMC10822777 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress and inflammation are both outcomes and major drivers of many human diseases. Sustained responsiveness despite mitigation suggests a failure to sense resolution of the stressor. Here we show that a proteolytic cleavage event of fatty acid synthase (FASN) activates a global cue for stress resolution in Caenorhabditis elegans. FASN is well established for biosynthesis of the fatty acid palmitate. Our results demonstrate FASN promoting an anti-inflammatory profile apart from palmitate synthesis. Redox-dependent proteolysis of limited amounts of FASN by caspase activates a C-terminal fragment sufficient to downregulate multiple aspects of stress responsiveness, including gene expression, metabolic programs and lipid droplets. The FASN C-terminal fragment signals stress resolution in a cell non-autonomous manner. Consistent with these findings, FASN processing is also seen in well-fed but not fasted male mouse liver. As downregulation of stress responses is critical to health, our findings provide a potential pathway to control diverse aspects of stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi M Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chendong Yang
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Guoli Hu
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Matthew Sieber
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
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8
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Turner CD, Stuhr NL, Ramos CM, Van Camp BT, Curran SP. A dicer-related helicase opposes the age-related pathology from SKN-1 activation in ASI neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308565120. [PMID: 38113255 PMCID: PMC10756303 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308565120] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordination of cellular responses to stress is essential for health across the lifespan. The transcription factor SKN-1 is an essential homeostat that mediates survival in stress-inducing environments and cellular dysfunction, but constitutive activation of SKN-1 drives premature aging thus revealing the importance of turning off cytoprotective pathways. Here, we identify how SKN-1 activation in two ciliated ASI neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans results in an increase in organismal transcriptional capacity that drives pleiotropic outcomes in peripheral tissues. An increase in the expression of established SKN-1 stress response and lipid metabolism gene classes of RNA in the ASI neurons, in addition to the increased expression of several classes of noncoding RNA, define a molecular signature of animals with constitutive SKN-1 activation and diminished healthspan. We reveal neddylation as a unique regulator of the SKN-1 homeostat that mediates SKN-1 abundance within intestinal cells. Moreover, RNAi-independent activity of the dicer-related DExD/H-box helicase, drh-1, in the intestine, can oppose the effects of aberrant SKN-1 transcriptional activation and delays age-dependent decline in health. Taken together, our results uncover a cell nonautonomous circuit to maintain organism-level homeostasis in response to excessive SKN-1 transcriptional activity in the sensory nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D. Turner
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Nicole L. Stuhr
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Carmen M. Ramos
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Bennett T. Van Camp
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Sean P. Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
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9
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Fanelli MJ, Welsh CM, Lui DS, Smulan LJ, Walker AK. Immunity-linked genes are stimulated by a membrane stress pathway linked to Golgi function and the ARF-1 GTPase. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi5545. [PMID: 38055815 PMCID: PMC10699786 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Infection response and other immunity-linked genes (ILGs) were first named in Caenorhabditis elegans-based expression after pathogen challenge, but many are also up-regulated when lipid metabolism is perturbed. Why pathogen attack and metabolic changes both increase ILGs is unclear. We find that ILGs are activated when phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels change in membranes of secretory organelles in C. elegans. RNAi targeting of the ADP-ribosylation factor arf-1, which disrupts the Golgi and secretory function, also activates ILGs. Low PC limits ARF-1 function, suggesting a mechanism for ILG activation via lipid metabolism, as part of a membrane stress response acting outside the ER. RNAi of selected ILGs uncovered defects in the secretion of two GFP reporters and the accumulation of a pathogen-responsive complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB) domain fusion protein. Our data argue that up-regulation of some ILGs is a coordinated response to changes in trafficking and may act to counteract stress on secretory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Fanelli
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Christofer M. Welsh
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Morningside School of Biomedical Sciences, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dominique S. Lui
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lorissa J. Smulan
- Department of Medicine, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Amy K. Walker
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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10
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Yasuda K, Miyazawa M, Ishii T, Ishii N. The role of nutrition and oxidative stress as aging factors in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2023; 73:173-177. [PMID: 37970544 PMCID: PMC10636583 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.23-44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of aging, which has been a "black box" for many years, has been elucidated in recent years, and the nematode C. elegans, which is a model animal for aging research, has played a major role in its elucidation. From the analysis of C. elegans longevity-related mutant genes, many signal transduction systems, with the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signal transduction system at the core, have emerged. It has become clear that this signal transduction system is greatly affected by external nutrients and is involved in the downstream regulation of oxidative stress, which is considered to be one of the main causes of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Yasuda
- Department of Health Management, Undergraduate School of Health Studies, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
| | - Masaki Miyazawa
- Department of Health Management, Undergraduate School of Health Studies, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
| | - Takamasa Ishii
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
| | - Naoaki Ishii
- Office of Professor Emeritus, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
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11
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Turner CD, Stuhr NL, Ramos CM, Van Camp BT, Curran SP. A dicer-related helicase opposes the age-related pathology from SKN-1 activation in ASI neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.01.560409. [PMID: 37873147 PMCID: PMC10592859 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.01.560409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Coordination of cellular responses to stress are essential for health across the lifespan. The transcription factor SKN-1 is an essential homeostat that mediates survival in stress-inducing environments and cellular dysfunction, but constitutive activation of SKN-1 drives premature aging thus revealing the importance of turning off cytoprotective pathways. Here we identify how SKN-1 activation in two ciliated ASI neurons in C. elegans results in an increase in organismal transcriptional capacity that drives pleiotropic outcomes in peripheral tissues. An increase in the expression of established SKN-1 stress response and lipid metabolism gene classes of RNA in the ASI neurons, in addition to the increased expression of several classes of non-coding RNA, define a molecular signature of animals with constitutive SKN-1 activation and diminished healthspan. We reveal neddylation as a novel regulator of the SKN-1 homeostat that mediates SKN-1 abundance within intestinal cells. Moreover, RNAi-independent activity of the dicer-related DExD/H-box helicase, drh-1 , in the intestine, can oppose the e2ffects of aberrant SKN-1 transcriptional activation and delays age-dependent decline in health. Taken together, our results uncover a cell non-autonomous circuit to maintain organism-level homeostasis in response to excessive SKN-1 transcriptional activity in the sensory nervous system. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Unlike activation, an understudied fundamental question across biological systems is how to deactivate a pathway, process, or enzyme after it has been turned on. The irony that the activation of a transcription factor that is meant to be protective can diminish health was first documented by us at the organismal level over a decade ago, but it has long been appreciated that chronic activation of the human ortholog of SKN-1, NRF2, could lead to chemo- and radiation resistance in cancer cells. A colloquial analogy to this biological idea is a sink faucet that has an on valve without a mechanism to shut the water off, which will cause the sink to overflow. Here, we define this off valve.
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12
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Doering KRS, Ermakova G, Taubert S. Nuclear hormone receptor NHR-49 is an essential regulator of stress resilience and healthy aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1241591. [PMID: 37645565 PMCID: PMC10461480 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1241591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The genome of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes 284 nuclear hormone receptor, which perform diverse functions in development and physiology. One of the best characterized of these is NHR-49, related in sequence and function to mammalian hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Initially identified as regulator of lipid metabolism, including fatty acid catabolism and desaturation, additional important roles for NHR-49 have since emerged. It is an essential contributor to longevity in several genetic and environmental contexts, and also plays vital roles in the resistance to several stresses and innate immune response to infection with various bacterial pathogens. Here, we review how NHR-49 is integrated into pertinent signaling circuits and how it achieves its diverse functions. We also highlight areas for future investigation including identification of regulatory inputs that drive NHR-49 activity and identification of tissue-specific gene regulatory outputs. We anticipate that future work on this protein will provide information that could be useful for developing strategies to age-associated declines in health and age-related human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsie R. S. Doering
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Glafira Ermakova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stefan Taubert
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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13
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Lažetić V, Blanchard MJ, Bui T, Troemel ER. Multiple pals gene modules control a balance between immunity and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011120. [PMID: 37463170 PMCID: PMC10353827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system continually battles against pathogen-induced pressures, which often leads to the evolutionary expansion of immune gene families in a species-specific manner. For example, the pals gene family expanded to 39 members in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome, in comparison to a single mammalian pals ortholog. Our previous studies have revealed that two members of this family, pals-22 and pals-25, act as antagonistic paralogs to control the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR). The IPR is a protective transcriptional response, which is activated upon infection by two molecularly distinct natural intracellular pathogens of C. elegans-the Orsay virus and the fungus Nematocida parisii from the microsporidia phylum. In this study, we identify a previously uncharacterized member of the pals family, pals-17, as a newly described negative regulator of the IPR. pals-17 mutants show constitutive upregulation of IPR gene expression, increased immunity against intracellular pathogens, as well as impaired development and reproduction. We also find that two other previously uncharacterized pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16, are positive regulators of the IPR, acting downstream of pals-17. These positive regulators reverse the effects caused by the loss of pals-17 on IPR gene expression, immunity, and development. We show that the negative IPR regulator protein PALS-17 and the positive IPR regulator protein PALS-20 colocalize inside and at the apical side of intestinal epithelial cells, which are the sites of infection for IPR-inducing pathogens. In summary, our study demonstrates that several pals genes from the expanded pals gene family act as ON/OFF switch modules to regulate a balance between organismal development and immunity against natural intracellular pathogens in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Michael J Blanchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Theresa Bui
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Emily R Troemel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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14
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Chaturbedi A, Lee SS. Different gametogenesis states uniquely impact longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544885. [PMID: 37398385 PMCID: PMC10312764 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Curtailed reproduction affects lifespan and fat metabolism in diverse organisms, suggesting a regulatory axis between these processes. In Caenorhabditis elegans, ablation of germline stem cells (GSCs) leads to extended lifespan and increased fat accumulation, suggesting GSCs emit signals that modulate systemic physiology. Previous studies mainly focused on the germline-less glp-1(e2141) mutant, however, the hermaphroditic germline of C. elegans provides an excellent opportunity to study the impact of different types of germline anomalies on longevity and fat metabolism. In this study, we compared the metabolomic, transcriptomic, and genetic pathway differences in three sterile mutants: germline-less glp-1, feminized fem-3, and masculinized mog-3. We found that although the three sterile mutants all accumulate excess fat and share expression changes in stress response and metabolism genes, the germline-less glp-1 mutant exhibits the most robust lifespan increase, whereas the feminized fem-3 mutant only lives longer at specific temperatures, and the masculinized mog-3 mutant lives drastically shorter. We demonstrated that overlapping but distinct genetic pathways are required for the longevity of the three different sterile mutants. Our data showed that disruptions of different germ cell populations result in unique and complex physiological and longevity consequences, highlighting exciting avenues for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaresh Chaturbedi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Siu Sylvia Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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15
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Papsdorf K, Miklas JW, Hosseini A, Cabruja M, Morrow CS, Savini M, Yu Y, Silva-García CG, Haseley NR, Murphy LM, Yao P, de Launoit E, Dixon SJ, Snyder MP, Wang MC, Mair WB, Brunet A. Lipid droplets and peroxisomes are co-regulated to drive lifespan extension in response to mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:672-684. [PMID: 37127715 PMCID: PMC10185472 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01136-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Dietary mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are linked to longevity in several species. But the mechanisms by which MUFAs extend lifespan remain unclear. Here we show that an organelle network involving lipid droplets and peroxisomes is critical for MUFA-induced longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. MUFAs upregulate the number of lipid droplets in fat storage tissues. Increased lipid droplet number is necessary for MUFA-induced longevity and predicts remaining lifespan. Lipidomics datasets reveal that MUFAs also modify the ratio of membrane lipids and ether lipids-a signature associated with decreased lipid oxidation. In agreement with this, MUFAs decrease lipid oxidation in middle-aged individuals. Intriguingly, MUFAs upregulate not only lipid droplet number but also peroxisome number. A targeted screen identifies genes involved in the co-regulation of lipid droplets and peroxisomes, and reveals that induction of both organelles is optimal for longevity. Our study uncovers an organelle network involved in lipid homeostasis and lifespan regulation, opening new avenues for interventions to delay aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason W Miklas
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Amir Hosseini
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matias Cabruja
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christopher S Morrow
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marzia Savini
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yong Yu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Carlos G Silva-García
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Pallas Yao
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Scott J Dixon
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Meng C Wang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - William B Mair
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Wu Tsai Institute of Neurosciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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16
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Tabarraei H, Waddell BM, Raymond K, Murray SM, Wang Y, Choe KP, Wu CW. CCR4-NOT subunit CCF-1/CNOT7 promotes transcriptional activation to multiple stress responses in Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13795. [PMID: 36797658 PMCID: PMC10086529 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
CCR4-NOT is a versatile eukaryotic protein complex that controls multiple steps in gene expression regulation from synthesis to decay. In yeast, CCR4-NOT has been implicated in stress response regulation, though this function in other organisms remains unclear. In a genome-wide RNAi screen, we identified a subunit of the CCR4-NOT complex, ccf-1, as a requirement for the C. elegans transcriptional response to cadmium and acrylamide stress. Using whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing, we show that the knockdown of ccf-1 attenuates the activation of a broad range of stress-protective genes in response to cadmium and acrylamide, including those encoding heat shock proteins and xenobiotic detoxification. Consistently, survival assays show that the knockdown of ccf-1 decreases C. elegans stress resistance and normal lifespan. A yeast 2-hybrid screen using a CCF-1 bait identified the homeobox transcription factor PAL-1 as a physical interactor. Knockdown of pal-1 inhibits the activation of ccf-1 dependent stress genes and reduces C. elegans stress resistance. Gene expression analysis reveals that knockdown of ccf-1 and pal-1 attenuates the activation of elt-2 and elt-3 under stress that encode master transcriptional co-regulators of stress response in the C. elegans, and that overexpression of ELT-2 can suppress ccf-1's requirement for gene transcription in a stress-dependent manner. Our findings reveal a new role for CCR4-NOT in the environmental stress response and define its role in stress resistance and longevity in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Tabarraei
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Brandon M Waddell
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Kelly Raymond
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sydney M Murray
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biology and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Keith P Choe
- Department of Biology and Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Cheng-Wei Wu
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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17
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Naringin Alleviates Glucose-Induced Aging by Reducing Fat Accumulation and Promoting Autophagy in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15040907. [PMID: 36839265 PMCID: PMC9961211 DOI: 10.3390/nu15040907] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Naringin (Nar) is a dihydroflavonoid compound, widely found in citrus fruit and used in Chinese herbal medicine. As a phytochemical, it acts as a dietary supplement that can delay aging and prevent aging-related disease, such as obesity and diabetes. However, its exact mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the high-glucose-induced (HGI) Caenorhabditis elegans model was used to evaluate the anti-aging and anti-obesity effects of Nar. The mean lifespan and fast movement span of HGI worms were extended roughly 24% and 11%, respectively, by Nar treatment. Oil red O staining revealed a significant reduction in fat accumulation and dFP::LGG-labeled worms showed the promotion of autophagy. Additionally, whole transcriptome sequencing and gene set variation analysis suggested that Nar upregulated the lipid biosynthesis and metabolism pathways, as well as the TGF-β, Wnt and longevity signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified hub genes in these pathways for further analysis. Mutant worms and RNA interference were used to study mechanisms; the suppression of hlh-30, lgg-1, unc-51, pha-4, skn-1 and yap-1 disabled the fat-lowering, lifespan-prolonging, and health-promoting properties of Nar. Collectively, our findings indicate that Nar plays an important role in alleviating HGI-aging and anti-obesity effects by reducing fat accumulation and promoting autophagy.
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18
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Lažetić V, Blanchard MJ, Bui T, Troemel ER. Multiple pals gene modules control a balance between immunity and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.15.524171. [PMID: 36711775 PMCID: PMC9882112 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.15.524171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The immune system continually battles against pathogen-induced pressures, which often leads to the evolutionary expansion of immune gene families in a species-specific manner. For example, the pals gene family expanded to 39 members in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome, in comparison to a single mammalian pals ortholog. Our previous studies have revealed that two members of this family, pals-22 and pals-25 , act as antagonistic paralogs to control the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR). The IPR is a protective transcriptional response, which is activated upon infection by two molecularly distinct natural intracellular pathogens of C. elegans - the Orsay virus and the fungus Nematocida parisii from the microsporidia phylum. In this study, we identify a previously uncharacterized member of the pals family, pals-17 , as a newly described negative regulator of the IPR. pals-17 mutants show constitutive upregulation of IPR gene expression, increased immunity against intracellular pathogens, as well as impaired development and reproduction. We also find that two other previously uncharacterized pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16 , are positive regulators of the IPR, acting downstream of pals-17 . These positive regulators reverse the effects caused by the loss of pals-17 on IPR gene expression, immunity and development. We show that the negative IPR regulator protein PALS-17 and the positive IPR regulator protein PALS-20 colocalize inside intestinal epithelial cells, which are the sites of infection for IPR-inducing pathogens. In summary, our study demonstrates that several pals genes from the expanded pals gene family act as ON/OFF switch modules to regulate a balance between organismal development and immunity against natural intracellular pathogens in C. elegans . AUTHOR SUMMARY Immune responses to pathogens induce extensive rewiring of host physiology. In the short term, these changes are generally beneficial as they can promote resistance against infection. However, prolonged activation of immune responses can have serious negative consequences on host health, including impaired organismal development and fitness. Therefore, the balance between activating the immune system and promoting development must be precisely regulated. In this study, we used genetics to identify a gene in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans called pals-17 that acts as a repressor of the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR), a defense response against viral and microsporidian infections. We also found that pals-17 is required for the normal development of these animals. Furthermore, we identified two other pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16 , as suppressors of pals-17 mutant phenotypes. Finally, we found that PALS-17 and PALS-20 proteins colocalize inside intestinal cells, where viruses and microsporidia invade and replicate in the host. Taken together, our study demonstrates a balance between organismal development and immunity that is regulated by several genetic ON/OFF switch 'modules' in C. elegans .
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Michael J. Blanchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Theresa Bui
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Emily R. Troemel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States,Corresponding author
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19
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The metabolite alpha-ketobutyrate extends lifespan by promoting peroxisomal function in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:240. [PMID: 36646719 PMCID: PMC9842765 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35899-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is intimately linked to aging. There is a growing number of studies showing that endogenous metabolites may delay aging and improve healthspan. Through the analysis of existing transcriptome data, we discover a link between activation of the transsulfuration pathway and a transcriptional program involved in peroxisome function and biogenesis in long-lived glp-1(e2141ts) mutant Caenorhabditis elegans worms. Subsequently, we show that supplementation with α-ketobutyrate, an intermediate of the transsulfuration pathway, extends lifespan in wild-type worms. Alpha-ketobutyrate augments the production of NAD+ via the lactate dehydrogenase LDH-1, leading to SIR-2.1/SIRT1-mediated enhanced peroxisome function and biogenesis, along with a concomitant increase in the expression of acox-1.2/ACOX1 in the peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation pathway. ACOX-1.2/ACOX1 promotes H2O2 formation, thereby resulting in activation of SKN-1/NRF2. This transcription factor in turn extends the lifespan of worms by driving expression of autophagic and lysosomal genes. Finally, we show that α-ketobutyrate also delays the cellular senescence in fibroblast cells through the SIRT1-ACOX1-H2O2-NRF2 pathway. This finding uncovers a previously unknown role for α-ketobutyrate in organismal lifespan and healthspan by coordinating the NAD+-SIRT1 signaling and peroxisomal function.
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20
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Castillo-Quan JI, Steinbaugh MJ, Fernández-Cárdenas LP, Pohl NK, Wu Z, Zhu F, Moroz N, Teixeira V, Bland MS, Lehrbach NJ, Moronetti L, Teufl M, Blackwell TK. An antisteatosis response regulated by oleic acid through lipid droplet-mediated ERAD enhancement. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadc8917. [PMID: 36598980 PMCID: PMC9812393 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc8917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Although excessive lipid accumulation is a hallmark of obesity-related pathologies, some lipids are beneficial. Oleic acid (OA), the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid (FA), promotes health and longevity. Here, we show that OA benefits Caenorhabditis elegans by activating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident transcription factor SKN-1A (Nrf1/NFE2L1) in a lipid homeostasis response. SKN-1A/Nrf1 is cleared from the ER by the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) machinery and stabilized when proteasome activity is low and canonically maintains proteasome homeostasis. Unexpectedly, OA increases nuclear SKN-1A levels independently of proteasome activity, through lipid droplet-dependent enhancement of ERAD. In turn, SKN-1A reduces steatosis by reshaping the lipid metabolism transcriptome and mediates longevity from OA provided through endogenous accumulation, reduced H3K4 trimethylation, or dietary supplementation. Our findings reveal an unexpected mechanism of FA signal transduction, as well as a lipid homeostasis pathway that provides strategies for opposing steatosis and aging, and may mediate some benefits of the OA-rich Mediterranean diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J. Steinbaugh
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Paulette Fernández-Cárdenas
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy K. Pohl
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ziyun Wu
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Feimei Zhu
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalie Moroz
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Biology Department, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Veronica Teixeira
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monet S. Bland
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicolas J. Lehrbach
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lorenza Moronetti
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Magdalena Teufl
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T. Keith Blackwell
- Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Corresponding author.
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21
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Ruvkun G, Lehrbach N. Regulation and Functions of the ER-Associated Nrf1 Transcription Factor. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:cshperspect.a041266. [PMID: 35940907 PMCID: PMC9808582 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Nrf1 is a member of the nuclear erythroid 2-like family of transcription factors that regulate stress-responsive gene expression in animals. Newly synthesized Nrf1 is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it is N-glycosylated. N-glycosylated Nrf1 is trafficked to the cytosol by the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) machinery and is subject to rapid proteasomal degradation. When proteasome function is impaired, Nrf1 escapes degradation and undergoes proteolytic cleavage and deglycosylation. Deglycosylation results in deamidation of N-glycosylated asparagine residues to edit the protein sequence encoded by the genome. This truncated and "sequence-edited" form of Nrf1 enters the nucleus where it induces up-regulation of proteasome subunit genes. Thus, Nrf1 drives compensatory proteasome biogenesis in cells exposed to proteasome inhibitor drugs and other proteotoxic insults. In addition to its role in proteasome homeostasis, Nrf1 is implicated in responses to oxidative stress, and maintaining lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we describe the conserved and complex mechanism by which Nrf1 is regulated and highlight emerging evidence linking this unusual transcription factor to development, aging, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Ruvkun
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Nicolas Lehrbach
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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22
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Soo SK, Traa A, Rudich ZD, Moldakozhayev A, Mistry M, Van Raamsdonk JM. Genetic basis of enhanced stress resistance in long-lived mutants highlights key role of innate immunity in determining longevity. Aging Cell 2022; 22:e13740. [PMID: 36514863 PMCID: PMC9924947 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations that extend lifespan are associated with enhanced resistance to stress. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship, we directly compared lifespan extension, resistance to external stressors, and gene expression in a panel of nine long-lived Caenorhabditis elegans mutants from different pathways of lifespan extension. All of the examined long-lived mutants exhibited increased resistance to one or more types of stress. Resistance to each of the examined types of stress had a significant, positive correlation with lifespan, with bacterial pathogen resistance showing the strongest relationship. Analysis of transcriptional changes indicated that all of the examined long-lived mutants showed a significant upregulation of multiple stress response pathways. Interestingly, there was a very significant overlap between genes highly correlated with stress resistance and genes highly correlated with longevity, suggesting that the same genetic pathways drive both phenotypes. This was especially true for genes correlated with bacterial pathogen resistance, which showed an 84% overlap with genes correlated with lifespan. To further explore the relationship between innate immunity and longevity, we disrupted the p38-mediated innate immune signaling pathway in each of the long-lived mutants and found that this pathway is required for lifespan extension in eight of nine mutants. Overall, our results demonstrate a strong correlation between stress resistance and longevity that results from the high degree of overlap in genes contributing to each phenotype. Moreover, these findings demonstrate the importance of the innate immune system in lifespan determination and indicate that the same underlying genes drive both immunity and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja K. Soo
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience ProgramResearch Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Annika Traa
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience ProgramResearch Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Zenith D. Rudich
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience ProgramResearch Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Alibek Moldakozhayev
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience ProgramResearch Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Meeta Mistry
- Bioinformatics Core, Harvard School of Public HealthHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jeremy M. Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada,Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience ProgramResearch Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada,Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
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23
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Zhang J, Shi Y, Yu Z. Balances among reproduction, antioxidant responses and lipid metabolism underlying the multi-generational effects of N-butylpyridinium bromide on Caenorhabditis elegans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157468. [PMID: 35868368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) are difficult to degrade and even accumulate in the environment. Accordingly, their long-term toxicities are particularly important to demonstrate their accurate risk assessment. However, their long-term toxicities over generations and the toxicity mechanisms lacked thorough investigation. Presently, N-butylpyridinium bromide ([bpyr]Br), a representative IL, was chosen to measure its long-term effects on Caenorhabditis elegans for seven consecutive generations at 0.0225 and 22.5 mg/L. Toxicity mechanisms were explored in F1, F3, F5 and F7 by combining both antioxidant responses and lipid metabolism. Results showed that [bpyr]Br at low concentration provoked oscillatory effects on the reproduction over 7 generations, with inhibition in F1 and F7 and stimulation in F2, F4 and F5. At high concentration, [bpyr]Br showed similar multi-generational oscillation with greater inhibition in F1 and greater stimulation in F5. The effects of [bpyr]Br on the antioxidant responses to oxidative stress also showed oscillation over generations. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) values showed that [bpyr]Br at low concentration did not provoke significant influences on the overall antioxidant homeostasis in F1 and F3, but significantly stimulated it in F5 and F7. Meanwhile, [bpyr]Br at high concentration stimulated the antioxidant homeostasis in F1 and F7 with non-significant influences in F3 and F5. The IBR values regarding indicators in lipid metabolism showed that [bpyr]Br significantly and commonly stimulated the overall metabolism without concentration-dependent differences. Further analysis implied that [bpyr]Br provoked different mechanisms underlying the responses at low and high concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China.
| | - Yang Shi
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China
| | - Zhenyang Yu
- Jiaxing Tongji Institute for Environment, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province 3014051, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
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24
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Further Extension of Lifespan by Unc-43/CaMKII and Egl-8/PLCβ Mutations in Germline-Deficient Caenorhabditis elegans. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223527. [PMID: 36428956 PMCID: PMC9688844 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223527] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduction of insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling (IIS) promotes longevity across species. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, ablation of germline stem cells (GSCs) and activity changes of the conserved signaling mediators unc-43/CaMKII (calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase type II) and egl-8/PLCβ (phospholipase Cβ) also increase lifespan. Like IIS, these pathways depend on the conserved transcription factor daf-16/FOXO for lifespan extension, but how they functionally interact is unknown. Here, we show that altered unc-43/egl-8 activity further increases the lifespan of long-lived GSC-deficient worms, but not of worms that are long-lived due to a strong reduction-of-function mutation in the insulin/IGF1-like receptor daf-2. Additionally, we provide evidence for unc-43 and, to a lesser extent, egl-8 modulating the expression of certain collagen genes, which were reported to be dispensable for longevity of these particular daf-2 mutant worms, but not for other forms of longevity. Together, these results provide new insights into the conditions and potential mechanisms by which CaMKII- and PLCβ-signals modulate C. elegans lifespan.
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25
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Hwang M, Shrestha C, Kang S, Kim J. MEKK-3 Acts Cooperatively with NSY-1 in SKN-1-Dependent Manner against Oxidative Stress and Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11101526. [PMID: 36290429 PMCID: PMC9598901 DOI: 10.3390/biology11101526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress resulting from reactive oxygen species and other toxic metabolites is involved in human diseases, and it plays an important role in aging. In Caenorhabditis elegans, SKN-1 is required for protection against oxidative stress and aging. As p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling is activated in response to oxidative stress, SKN-1 accumulates in intestinal nuclei and induces phase II detoxification genes. However, NSY-1, a well-known mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) of C. elegans, acts as a partial regulator of the SKN-1-induced oxidative stress signaling pathway, suggesting that the regulator for optimal activation of SKN-1 remains unknown. Here, we report a MAPKKK, MEKK-3, as a new regulator required for full activation of SKN-1-mediated resistance against oxidative stress and aging. In RNA-interference-based screening, we found that the simultaneous knockdown of mekk-3 and nsy-1 significantly decreased the oxidative stress resistance and survival of SKN-1 transgenic worms. MEKK-3 was induced in response to oxidative stress. Mechanistic analysis revealed that double knockdown of mekk-3 and nsy-1 completely suppressed the nuclear localization of SKN-1. These results were reproduced in mutant worms in which SKN-1 is constitutively localized to intestinal nuclei. In addition, mekk-3 and nsy-1 were required for optimal induction of SKN-1 target genes such as gcs-1 and trx-1. These data indicate that MEKK-3 plays an essential role in the SKN-1-dependent signaling pathway involved in oxidative stress resistance and longevity by cooperating with NSY-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hwang
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Chandani Shrestha
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Shinwon Kang
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G, Canada
| | - Jiyoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
- Correspondence:
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26
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Servello FA, Fernandes R, Eder M, Harris N, Martin OMF, Oswal N, Lindberg A, Derosiers N, Sengupta P, Stroustrup N, Apfeld J. Neuronal temperature perception induces specific defenses that enable C. elegans to cope with the enhanced reactivity of hydrogen peroxide at high temperature. eLife 2022; 11:e78941. [PMID: 36226814 PMCID: PMC9635881 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide is the most common reactive chemical that organisms face on the microbial battlefield. The rate with which hydrogen peroxide damages biomolecules required for life increases with temperature, yet little is known about how organisms cope with this temperature-dependent threat. Here, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes use temperature information perceived by sensory neurons to cope with the temperature-dependent threat of hydrogen peroxide produced by the pathogenic bacterium Enterococcus faecium. These nematodes preemptively induce the expression of specific hydrogen peroxide defenses in response to perception of high temperature by a pair of sensory neurons. These neurons communicate temperature information to target tissues expressing those defenses via an insulin/IGF1 hormone. This is the first example of a multicellular organism inducing their defenses to a chemical when they sense an inherent enhancer of the reactivity of that chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rute Fernandes
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Matthias Eder
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Olivier MF Martin
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Natasha Oswal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Anders Lindberg
- Biology Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
| | | | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Nicholas Stroustrup
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Javier Apfeld
- Biology Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
- Bioengineering Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
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27
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Webster AK, Chitrakar R, Taylor SM, Baugh LR. Alternative somatic and germline gene-regulatory strategies during starvation-induced developmental arrest. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111473. [PMID: 36223742 PMCID: PMC9608353 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrient availability governs growth and quiescence, and many animals arrest development when starved. Using C. elegans L1 arrest as a model, we show that gene expression changes deep into starvation. Surprisingly, relative expression of germline-enriched genes increases for days. We conditionally degrade the large subunit of RNA polymerase II using the auxin-inducible degron system and analyze absolute expression levels. We find that somatic transcription is required for survival, but the germline maintains transcriptional quiescence. Thousands of genes are continuously transcribed in the soma, though their absolute abundance declines, such that relative expression of germline transcripts increases given extreme transcript stability. Aberrantly activating transcription in starved germ cells compromises reproduction, demonstrating important physiological function of transcriptional quiescence. This work reveals alternative somatic and germline gene-regulatory strategies during starvation, with the soma maintaining a robust transcriptional response to support survival and the germline maintaining transcriptional quiescence to support future reproductive success. Webster et al. show that the transcriptional response to starvation is mounted early in larval somatic cells supporting survival but that it wanes over time. In contrast, they show that the germline remains transcriptionally quiescent deep into starvation, supporting reproductive potential, while maintaining its transcriptome via transcript stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K. Webster
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Present address: Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Rojin Chitrakar
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Seth M. Taylor
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - L. Ryan Baugh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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28
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The p38 MAPK/PMK-1 Pathway Is Required for Resistance to Nocardia farcinica Infection in Caenorhabditis elegance. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101071. [PMID: 36297128 PMCID: PMC9609018 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Nocardia farcinica is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nocardiosis primarily in patients with compromised immune systems. In this study, we used the genetically tractable organism Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study the innate immune responses to N. farcinica infection. We found that unlike other pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, N. farcinica failed to kill adult worms. In another words, adult worms exposed to N. farcinica exhibited a normal lifespan, compared with those fed the standard laboratory food bacterium Escherichia coli OP50. Interestingly, deletion of three core genes (pmk-1, nsy-1 and sek-1) in the p38 MAPK/PMK-1 pathway reduced the survival of worm exposure to N. farcinica, highlighting a crucial role of this pathway for C. elegans in resistance to N. farcinica. Furthermore, our results revealed that N. farcinica exposure up-regulated the level of PMK-1 phosphorylation. The activation of PMK-1 promoted nuclear translocation of a transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2, which in turn mediated N. farcinica infection resistance in C. elegans. Our results provide an excellent example that the integrity of immune system is key aspect for counteract with pathogenesis of N. farcinica.
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29
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Kishner M, Habaz L, Meshnik L, Meidan TD, Polonsky A, Ben-Zvi A. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like receptor 2 inversely regulates somatic proteostasis and reproduction in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:951199. [PMID: 36105349 PMCID: PMC9465036 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.951199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The quality control machinery regulates the cellular proteome to ensure proper protein homeostasis (proteostasis). In Caenorhabditis elegans, quality control networks are downregulated cell-nonautonomously by the gonadal longevity pathway or metabolic signaling at the onset of reproduction. However, how signals are mediated between the gonad and the somatic tissues is not known. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-like signaling functions in the interplay between development and reproduction and have conserved roles in regulating reproduction, metabolism, and stress. We, therefore, asked whether GnRH-like signaling is involved in proteostasis collapse at the onset of reproduction. Here, we examine whether C. elegans orthologues of GnRH receptors modulate heat shock survival. We find that gnrr-2 is required for proteostasis remodeling in different somatic tissues during the transition to adulthood. We show that gnrr-2 likely functions in neurons downstream of the gonad in the gonadal-longevity pathway and modulate the somatic regulation of transcription factors HSF-1, DAF-16, and PQM-1. In parallel, gnrr-2 modulates egg-laying rates, vitellogenin production, and thus reproductive capacity. Taken together, our data suggest that gnrr-2 plays a GnRH-associated role, mediating the cross-talk between the reproduction system and the soma in the decision to commit to reproduction.
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30
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Frankino PA, Siddiqi TF, Bolas T, Bar-Ziv R, Gildea HK, Zhang H, Higuchi-Sanabria R, Dillin A. SKN-1 regulates stress resistance downstream of amino catabolism pathways. iScience 2022; 25:104571. [PMID: 35784796 PMCID: PMC9240870 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The deleterious potential to generate oxidative stress is a fundamental challenge to metabolism. The oxidative stress response transcription factor, SKN-1/NRF2, can sense and respond to changes in metabolic state, although the mechanism and consequences of this remain unknown. Here, we performed a genetic screen in C. elegans targeting amino acid catabolism and identified multiple metabolic pathways as regulators of SKN-1 activity. We found that knockdown of the conserved amidohydrolase T12A2.1/amdh-1 activates a unique subset of SKN-1 regulated genes. Interestingly, this transcriptional program is independent of canonical P38-MAPK signaling components but requires ELT-3, NHR-49 and MDT-15. This activation of SKN-1 is dependent on upstream histidine catabolism genes HALY-1 and Y51H4A.7/UROC-1 and may occur through accumulation of a catabolite, 4-imidazolone-5-propanoate. Activating SKN-1 results in increased oxidative stress resistance but decreased survival to heat stress. Together, our data suggest that SKN-1 acts downstream of key catabolic pathways to influence physiology and stress resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip A. Frankino
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Talha F. Siddiqi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Theodore Bolas
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Raz Bar-Ziv
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Holly K. Gildea
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Andrew Dillin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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31
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Pioglitazone Hydrochloride Extends the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by Activating DAF-16/FOXO- and SKN-1/NRF2-Related Signaling Pathways. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:8496063. [PMID: 35677109 PMCID: PMC9168093 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8496063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pioglitazone hydrochloride (PGZ), a nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, is a universally adopted oral agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Previous studies reported that PGZ could ameliorate the symptoms of aging-related diseases and Alzheimer's disease. However, whether PGZ participates in aging regulation and the underlying mechanism remain undetermined. Here, we found that PGZ significantly prolonged the lifespan and healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). We found that a variety of age-related pathways and age-related genes are required for PGZ-induced lifespan extension. The transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO, HSF-1, and SKN-1/NRF2, as well as the nuclear receptors DAF-12 and NHR-49, all functioned in the survival advantage conferred by PGZ. Moreover, our results demonstrated that PGZ induced lifespan extension through the inhibition of insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) and reproductive signaling pathways, as well as the activation of dietary restriction- (DR-) related pathways. Additionally, our results also indicated that beneficial longevity mediated by PGZ is linked to its antioxidative activity. Our research may provide a basis for further research on PGZ, as an anti-T2D drug, to interfere with aging and reduce the incidence of age-related diseases in diabetic patients.
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32
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Andersen N, Veuthey T, Blanco MG, Silbestri GF, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. 1-Mesityl-3-(3-Sulfonatopropyl) Imidazolium Protects Against Oxidative Stress and Delays Proteotoxicity in C. elegans. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:908696. [PMID: 35685626 PMCID: PMC9171001 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.908696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increase in life expectancy worldwide, age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become more prevalent. Conventional treatments comprise drugs that only attenuate some of the symptoms, but fail to arrest or delay neuronal proteotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Due to their diverse biological activities, imidazole rings are intensively explored as powerful scaffolds for the development of new bioactive molecules. By using C. elegans, our work aims to explore novel biological roles for these compounds. To this end, we have tested the in vivo anti-proteotoxic effects of imidazolium salts. Since NDs have been largely linked to impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, we focused on 1-Mesityl-3-(3-sulfonatopropyl) imidazolium (MSI), one of the imidazolium salts that we identified as capable of improving iron-induced oxidative stress resistance in wild-type animals. By combining mutant and gene expression analysis we have determined that this protective effect depends on the activation of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF-1), whereas it is independent of other canonical cytoprotective molecules such as abnormal Dauer Formation-16 (DAF-16/FOXO) and Skinhead-1 (SKN-1/Nrf2). To delve deeper into the biological roles of MSI, we analyzed the impact of this compound on previously established C. elegans models of protein aggregation. We found that MSI ameliorates β-amyloid-induced paralysis in worms expressing the pathological protein involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. Moreover, this compound also delays age-related locomotion decline in other proteotoxic C. elegans models, suggesting a broad protective effect. Taken together, our results point to MSI as a promising anti-proteotoxic compound and provide proof of concept of the potential of imidazole derivatives in the development of novel therapies to retard age-related proteotoxic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Tania Veuthey
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Blanco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Fabian Silbestri
- Departamento de Química, INQUISUR, Universidad Nacional Del Sur, UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
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33
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Camacho J, de Conti A, Pogribny IP, Sprando RL, Hunt PR. Assessment of the Effects of Organic vs. Inorganic Arsenic and Mercury in Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100071. [PMID: 35602005 PMCID: PMC9118485 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar developmental delays and oxidative stress with 20x DMA relative to NaAsO2. Dissimilar gene expression and locomotion with organic vs. inorganic mercury. Dissimilar unfolded protein responses for organic vs. inorganic arsenic and mercury. Across phyla, methylation has opposite effects on arsenic vs. mercury toxicity.
Exposures to mercury and arsenic are known to pose significant threats to human health. Effects specific to organic vs. inorganic forms of these toxic elements are less understood however, especially for organic dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which has recently been detected in pups of rodent dams orally exposed to inorganic sodium (meta)arsenite (NaAsO2). Caenorhabditis elegans is a small animal alternative toxicity model. To fill data gaps on the effects of DMA relative to NaAsO2, C. elegans were exposed to these two compounds alongside more thoroughly researched inorganic mercury chloride (HgCl2) and organic methylmercury chloride (meHgCl). For timing of developmental milestone acquisition in C. elegans, meHgCl was 2 to 4-fold more toxic than HgCl2, and NaAsO2 was 20-fold more toxic than DMA, ranking the four compounds meHgCl > HgCl2 > NaAsO2 ≫ DMA for developmental toxicity. Methylmercury induced significant decreases in population locomotor activity levels in developing C. elegans. DMA was also associated with developmental hypoactivity, but at >100-fold higher concentrations than meHgCl. Transcriptional alterations in native genes were observed in wild type C. elegans adults exposed to concentrations equitoxic for developmental delay in juveniles. Both forms of arsenic induced genes involved in immune defense and oxidative stress response, while the two mercury species induced proportionally more genes involved in transcriptional regulation. A transgenic bioreporter for activation of conserved proteosome specific unfolded protein response was strongly activated by NaAsO2, but not DMA at tested concentrations. HgCl2 and meHgCl had opposite effects on a bioreporter for unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum. Presented experiments indicating low toxicity for DMA in C. elegans are consistent with human epidemiologic data correlating higher arsenic methylation capacity with resistance to arsenic toxicity. This work contributes to the understanding of the accuracy and fit-for-use categories for C. elegans toxicity screening and its usefulness to prioritize compounds of concern for further testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Camacho
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
| | - Aline de Conti
- Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, 3900 NCTR Rd, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States
| | - Igor P. Pogribny
- Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, 3900 NCTR Rd, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States
| | - Robert L. Sprando
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
| | - Piper Reid Hunt
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, United States
- Corresponding author.
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Statzer C, Meng J, Venz R, Bland M, Robida-Stubbs S, Patel K, Petrovic D, Emsley R, Liu P, Morantte I, Haynes C, Mair WB, Longchamp A, Filipovic MR, Blackwell TK, Ewald CY. ATF-4 and hydrogen sulfide signalling mediate longevity in response to inhibition of translation or mTORC1. Nat Commun 2022; 13:967. [PMID: 35181679 PMCID: PMC8857226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28599-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the master growth regulator mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) slows ageing across phyla, in part by reducing protein synthesis. Various stresses globally suppress protein synthesis through the integrated stress response (ISR), resulting in preferential translation of the transcription factor ATF-4. Here we show in C. elegans that inhibition of translation or mTORC1 increases ATF-4 expression, and that ATF-4 mediates longevity under these conditions independently of ISR signalling. ATF-4 promotes longevity by activating canonical anti-ageing mechanisms, but also by elevating expression of the transsulfuration enzyme CTH-2 to increase hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production. This H2S boost increases protein persulfidation, a protective modification of redox-reactive cysteines. The ATF-4/CTH-2/H2S pathway also mediates longevity and increased stress resistance from mTORC1 suppression. Increasing H2S levels, or enhancing mechanisms that H2S influences through persulfidation, may represent promising strategies for mobilising therapeutic benefits of the ISR, translation suppression, or mTORC1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Statzer
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Jin Meng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Research Division, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Richard Venz
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Monet Bland
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Research Division, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stacey Robida-Stubbs
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Research Division, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Krina Patel
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Research Division, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dunja Petrovic
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany
| | - Raffaella Emsley
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pengpeng Liu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ianessa Morantte
- Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cole Haynes
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - William B Mair
- Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alban Longchamp
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Milos R Filipovic
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany
| | - T Keith Blackwell
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Joslin Diabetes Center, Research Division, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Collin Y Ewald
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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Neuropeptide signaling and SKN-1 orchestrate differential responses of the proteostasis network to dissimilar proteotoxic insults. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110350. [PMID: 35139369 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein homeostasis (proteostasis) network (PN) encompasses mechanisms that maintain proteome integrity by controlling various biological functions. Loss of proteostasis leads to toxic protein aggregation (proteotoxicity), which underlies the manifestation of neurodegeneration. How the PN responds to dissimilar proteotoxic challenges and how these responses are regulated at the organismal level are largely unknown. Here, we report that, while torsin chaperones protect from the toxicity of neurodegeneration-causing polyglutamine stretches, they exacerbate the toxicity of the Alzheimer's disease-causing Aβ peptide in neurons and muscles. These opposing effects are accompanied by differential modulations of gene expression, including that of three neuropeptides that are involved in tailoring the organismal response to dissimilar proteotoxic insults. This mechanism is regulated by insulin/IGF signaling and the transcription factor SKN-1/NRF. Our work delineates a mechanism by which the PN orchestrates differential responses to dissimilar proteotoxic challenges and points at potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Zheng Y, Yu Z, Zhang J. Multi-generational effects of enrofloxacin on lifespan and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans with SKN-1-mediated antioxidant responses and lipid metabolism disturbances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 804:150250. [PMID: 34798755 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and they can provoke multi-generational impacts due to their pseudo-persistence. However, their multi-generational effects and potential mechanisms remained poorly studied. Presently, effects of enrofloxacin (ENR) were studied on Caenorhabditis elegans with a continuous exposure over 9 generations (from F1 to F9) at an environmentally realistic level. Regarding reproduction, ENR showed stimulation in F1 (1.18-fold of the control) and F2 (1.08), inhibition in F3 (0.70), stimulation in F4 (1.86), F5 (3.18) and F6 (1.53), inhibition in F7 (0.73) and F8 (0.69) and stimulation again in F9 (1.89). That is to say, ENR provoked multi-generational oscillatory effects on the reproduction. Such oscillation was also observed in effects on lifespan with much less magnitudes than those on reproduction. Biochemical assays were performed in F1, F3, F4 and F9 which represented the oscillation over generations. Results showed more antioxidants (e.g., superoxide dismutase and glutathione), mild oxidative stress (e.g., reactive oxygen species) and less oxidative damage (i.e., protein carbonyl) underlying the generation-dependent stimulation. Moreover, ENR provoked multi-generational oscillation on the enzymes that regulate the lipogenesis (e.g., fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase) and lipolysis (e.g., acyl-CoA synthetase), with similarities to the effects on the oxidative stress and damage. Further analysis on SKN-1 and its activating PMK-1 and GSK-3 demonstrated their involvement in regulating both antioxidant detoxification and lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yungu Zheng
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China; Jiaxing Tongji Institute for Environment, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314051, PR China
| | - Zhenyang Yu
- Jiaxing Tongji Institute for Environment, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314051, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, PR China.
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Lažetić V, Wu F, Cohen LB, Reddy KC, Chang YT, Gang SS, Bhabha G, Troemel ER. The transcription factor ZIP-1 promotes resistance to intracellular infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2022; 13:17. [PMID: 35013162 PMCID: PMC8748929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27621-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Defense against intracellular infection has been extensively studied in vertebrate hosts, but less is known about invertebrate hosts; specifically, the transcription factors that induce defense against intracellular intestinal infection in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans remain understudied. Two different types of intracellular pathogens that naturally infect the C. elegans intestine are the Orsay virus, which is an RNA virus, and microsporidia, which comprise a phylum of fungal pathogens. Despite their molecular differences, these pathogens induce a common host transcriptional response called the intracellular pathogen response (IPR). Here we show that zip-1 is an IPR regulator that functions downstream of all known IPR-activating and regulatory pathways. zip-1 encodes a putative bZIP transcription factor, and we show that zip-1 controls induction of a subset of genes upon IPR activation. ZIP-1 protein is expressed in the nuclei of intestinal cells, and is at least partially required in the intestine to upregulate IPR gene expression. Importantly, zip-1 promotes resistance to infection by the Orsay virus and by microsporidia in intestinal cells. Altogether, our results indicate that zip-1 represents a central hub for triggers of the IPR, and that this transcription factor has a protective function against intracellular pathogen infection in C. elegans. Intestinal immune responses to intracellular infection of Caenorhabditis elegans and other Invertebrate hosts are not well understood. Here the authors show a key role for the transcription factor ZIP-1 during intestinal intracellular infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Fengting Wu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Lianne B Cohen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Kirthi C Reddy
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Ya-Ting Chang
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Spencer S Gang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Gira Bhabha
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily R Troemel
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA.
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Mack HID, Kremer J, Albertini E, Mack EKM, Jansen-Dürr P. Regulation of fatty acid desaturase- and immunity gene-expression by mbk-1/DYRK1A in Caenorhabditis elegans. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:25. [PMID: 34983389 PMCID: PMC8729107 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, longevity in response to germline ablation, but not in response to reduced insulin/IGF1-like signaling, is strongly dependent on the conserved protein kinase minibrain-related kinase 1 (MBK-1). In humans, the MBK-1 ortholog DYRK1A is associated with a variety of disorders, most prominently with neurological defects observed in Down syndrome. To better understand mbk-1's physiological roles and their dependence on genetic background, we analyzed the influence of mbk-1 loss on the transcriptomes of wildtype and long-lived, germline-deficient or insulin-receptor defective, C. elegans strains by RNA-sequencing. RESULTS mbk-1 loss elicited global changes in transcription that were less pronounced in insulin-receptor mutant than in germline-deficient or wildtype C. elegans. Irrespective of genetic background, mbk-1 regulated genes were enriched for functions in biological processes related to organic acid metabolism and pathogen defense. qPCR-studies confirmed mbk-1 dependent induction of all three C. elegans Δ9-fatty acid desaturases, fat-5, fat-6 and fat-7, in wildtype, germline-deficient and insulin-receptor mutant strains. Conversely, mbk-1 dependent expression patterns of selected pathogen resistance genes, including asp-12, dod-24 and drd-50, differed across the genetic backgrounds examined. Finally, cth-1 and cysl-2, two genes which connect pathogen resistance to the metabolism of the gaseous messenger and lifespan regulator hydrogen sulfide (H2S), were commonly suppressed by mbk-1 loss only in wildtype and germline-deficient, but not in insulin-receptor mutant C. elegans. CONCLUSION Our work reveals previously unknown roles of C. elegans mbk-1 in the regulation of fatty acid desaturase- and H2S metabolic-genes. These roles are only partially dependent on genetic background. Considering the particular importance of fatty acid desaturation and H2S for longevity of germline-deficient C. elegans, we propose that these processes at least in part account for the previous observation that mbk-1 preferentially regulates lifespan in these worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard I D Mack
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Rennweg 10, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Jennifer Kremer
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps-University Marburg, and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eva Albertini
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Rennweg 10, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elisabeth K M Mack
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps-University Marburg, and University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Pidder Jansen-Dürr
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Rennweg 10, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Dai Y, Tang H, Pang S. The Crucial Roles of Phospholipids in Aging and Lifespan Regulation. Front Physiol 2021; 12:775648. [PMID: 34887779 PMCID: PMC8650052 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.775648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Phospholipids are major membrane lipids that consist of lipid bilayers. This basic cellular structure acts as a barrier to protect the cell against various environmental insults and more importantly, enables multiple cellular processes to occur in subcellular compartments. Numerous studies have linked the complexity of membrane lipids to signal transductions, organelle functions, as well as physiological processes, and human diseases. Recently, crucial roles for membrane lipids in the aging process are beginning to emerge. In this study, we summarized current advances in our understanding of the relationship between membrane lipids and aging with an emphasis on phospholipid species. We surveyed how major phospholipid species change with age in different organisms and tissues, and some common patterns of membrane lipid change during aging were proposed. Further, the functions of different phospholipid molecules in regulating healthspan and lifespan, as well as their potential mechanisms of action, were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucan Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiqing Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shanshan Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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40
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Soo SK, Traa A, Rudich PD, Mistry M, Van Raamsdonk JM. Activation of mitochondrial unfolded protein response protects against multiple exogenous stressors. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:e202101182. [PMID: 34583931 PMCID: PMC8500221 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mitoUPR) is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that responds to mitochondria insults through transcriptional changes, mediated by the transcription factor ATFS-1/ATF-5, which acts to restore mitochondrial homeostasis. In this work, we characterized the role of ATFS-1 in responding to organismal stress. We found that activation of ATFS-1 is sufficient to cause up-regulation of genes involved in multiple stress response pathways including the DAF-16-mediated stress response pathway, the cytosolic unfolded protein response, the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response, the SKN-1-mediated oxidative stress response pathway, the HIF-1-mediated hypoxia response pathway, the p38-mediated innate immune response pathway, and antioxidant genes. Constitutive activation of ATFS-1 increases resistance to multiple acute exogenous stressors, whereas disruption of atfs-1 decreases stress resistance. Although ATFS-1-dependent genes are up-regulated in multiple long-lived mutants, constitutive activation of ATFS-1 decreases lifespan in wild-type animals. Overall, our work demonstrates that ATFS-1 serves a vital role in organismal survival of acute stressors through its ability to activate multiple stress response pathways but that chronic ATFS-1 activation is detrimental for longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja K Soo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Annika Traa
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Paige D Rudich
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Meeta Mistry
- Bioinformatics Core, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Grifola frondosa (Maitake) Extract Reduces Fat Accumulation and Improves Health Span in C. elegans through the DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2 Signalling Pathways. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13113968. [PMID: 34836223 PMCID: PMC8620745 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, food ingredients rich in bioactive compounds have emerged as candidates to prevent excess adiposity and other metabolic complications characteristic of obesity, such as low-grade inflammation and oxidative status. Among them, fungi have gained popularity for their high polysaccharide content and other bioactive components with beneficial activities. Here, we use the C. elegans model to investigate the potential activities of a Grifola frondosa extract (GE), together with the underlying mechanisms of action. Our study revealed that GE represents an important source of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds with in vitro antioxidant activity. Treatment with our GE extract, which was found to be nongenotoxic through a SOS/umu test, significantly reduced the fat content of C. elegans, decreased the production of intracellular ROS and aging–lipofuscin pigment, and increased the lifespan of nematodes. Gene expression and mutant analyses demonstrated that the in vivo anti-obesity and antioxidant activities of GE were mediated through the daf-2/daf-16 and skn-1/nrf-2 signalling pathways, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that our GE extract could be considered a potential functional ingredient for the prevention of obesity-related disturbances.
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42
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Lehrbach NJ. NGLY1: Insights from C. elegans. J Biochem 2021; 171:145-152. [PMID: 34697631 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvab112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide:N-glycanase is an evolutionarily conserved deglycosylating enzyme that catalyzes the removal of N-linked glycans from cytosolic glycoproteins. Recessive mutations that inactivate this enzyme cause NGLY1 deficiency, a multisystemic disorder with symptoms including developmental delay and defects in cognition and motor control. Developing treatments for NGLY1 deficiency will require an understanding of how failure to deglycosylate NGLY1 substrates perturbs cellular and organismal function. In this review, I highlight insights into peptide:N-glycanase biology gained by studies in the highly tractable genetic model animal C. elegans. I focus on the recent discovery of SKN-1A/Nrf1, an N-glycosylated transcription factor, as a peptide:N-glycanase substrate critical for regulation of the proteasome. I describe the elaborate post-translational mechanism that culminates in activation of SKN-1A/Nrf1 via NGLY1-dependent 'sequence editing' and discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of NGLY1 deficiency.
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Zhou L, Tong H, Tang H, Pang S. Fatty acid desaturation is essential for C. elegans longevity at high temperature. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 200:111586. [PMID: 34655615 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111586] [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: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is crucial for the adaptation to environmental temperature stress. It is generally accepted that fatty acid (FA) desaturation is suppressed at high temperature, which decreases the ratio of unsaturated FAs to saturated FAs (UFAs/SFAs) to maintain the fluidity of cell membranes and favor cellular survival. Here by working in C. elegans, we found that FA desaturation is essential for longevity in response to temperature upshift at the organismal level, opposite to its role in cellular survival. High temperature unexpectedly increases the contents of total fat and multiple UFA species. Specifically, monounsaturated oleic acid (OA) is required for animal survival at high temperature. Mechanistic study showed that OA acts through HSF-1, which in turn promotes histone acetylation as well as the expression of defense genes that are crucial for longevity at high temperature. Together, our findings reveal an unprecedented role for FA desaturation in organismal fitness to temperature upshift, and implicate divergent metabolic requirements between cellular and organismal survival upon temperature stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China; State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Haixiang Tong
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Haiqing Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
| | - Shanshan Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
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Context-specific regulation of lysosomal lipolysis through network-level diverting of transcription factor interactions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2104832118. [PMID: 34607947 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104832118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasticity in multicellular organisms involves signaling pathways converting contexts-either natural environmental challenges or laboratory perturbations-into context-specific changes in gene expression. Congruently, the interactions between the signaling molecules and transcription factors (TF) regulating these responses are also context specific. However, when a target gene responds across contexts, the upstream TF identified in one context is often inferred to regulate it across contexts. Reconciling these stable TF-target gene pair inferences with the context-specific nature of homeostatic responses is therefore needed. The induction of the Caenorhabditis elegans genes lipl-3 and lipl-4 is observed in many genetic contexts and is essential to survival during fasting. We find DAF-16/FOXO mediating lipl-4 induction in all contexts tested; hence, lipl-4 regulation seems context independent and compatible with across-context inferences. In contrast, DAF-16-mediated regulation of lipl-3 is context specific. DAF-16 reduces the induction of lipl-3 during fasting, yet it promotes it during oxidative stress. Through discrete dynamic modeling and genetic epistasis, we define that DAF-16 represses HLH-30/TFEB-the main TF activating lipl-3 during fasting. Contrastingly, DAF-16 activates the stress-responsive TF HSF-1 during oxidative stress, which promotes C. elegans survival through induction of lipl-3 Furthermore, the TF MXL-3 contributes to the dominance of HSF-1 at the expense of HLH-30 during oxidative stress but not during fasting. This study shows how context-specific diverting of functional interactions within a molecular network allows cells to specifically respond to a large number of contexts with a limited number of molecular players, a mode of transcriptional regulation we name "contextualized transcription."
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45
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Zhou Y, Hu G, Wang MC. Host and microbiota metabolic signals in aging and longevity. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:1027-1036. [PMID: 34552221 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00837-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable biochemical process that adversely affects personal health and poses ever-increasing challenges to society. Recent research has revealed the crucial role of metabolism in regulating aging and longevity. During diverse metabolic processes, the host organism and their symbiotic partners-the microbiota-produce thousands of chemical products (metabolites). Emerging studies have uncovered specific metabolites that act as signaling molecules to actively regulate longevity. Here we review the latest progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which metabolites from the host and/or microbiota promote longevity. We also highlight state-of-the-art technologies for discovering, profiling and imaging aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and for deciphering the molecular basis of their actions. The broad application of these technologies in aging research, together with future advances, will foster the systematic discovery of aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and their signaling pathways. These metabolite signals should provide promising targets for developing new interventions to promote longevity and healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guo Hu
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Meng C Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Deciphering Differential Life Stage Radioinduced Reproductive Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans through Lipid Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910277. [PMID: 34638618 PMCID: PMC8508812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife is chronically exposed to various sources of ionizing radiations, both environmental or anthropic, due to nuclear energy use, which can induce several defects in organisms. In invertebrates, reproduction, which directly impacts population dynamics, has been found to be the most radiosensitive endpoint. Understanding the underlying molecular pathways inducing this reproduction decrease can help in predicting the effects at larger scales (i.e., population). In this study, we used a life stage dependent approach in order to better understand the molecular determinants of reproduction decrease in the roundworm C. elegans. Worms were chronically exposed to 50 mGy·h−1 external gamma ionizing radiations throughout different developmental periods (namely embryogenesis, gametogenesis, and full development). Then, in addition to reproduction parameters, we performed a wide analysis of lipids (different class and fatty acid via FAMES), which are both important signaling molecules for reproduction and molecular targets of oxidative stress. Our results showed that reproductive defects are life stage dependent, that lipids are differently misregulated according to the considered exposure (e.g., upon embryogenesis and full development) and do not fully explain radiation induced reproductive defects. Finally, our results enable us to propose a conceptual model of lipid signaling after radiation stress in which both the soma and the germline participate.
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Saturated very long chain fatty acid configures glycosphingolipid for lysosome homeostasis in long-lived C. elegans. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5073. [PMID: 34417467 PMCID: PMC8379269 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25398-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The contents of numerous membrane lipids change upon ageing. However, it is unknown whether and how any of these changes are causally linked to lifespan regulation. Acyl chains contribute to the functional specificity of membrane lipids. In this study, working with C. elegans, we identified an acyl chain-specific sphingolipid, C22 glucosylceramide, as a longevity metabolite. Germline deficiency, a conserved lifespan-extending paradigm, induces somatic expression of the fatty acid elongase ELO-3, and behenic acid (22:0) generated by ELO-3 is incorporated into glucosylceramide for lifespan regulation. Mechanistically, C22 glucosylceramide is required for the membrane localization of clathrin, a protein that regulates membrane budding. The reduction in C22 glucosylceramide impairs the clathrin-dependent autophagic lysosome reformation, which subsequently leads to TOR activation and longevity suppression. These findings reveal a mechanistic link between membrane lipids and ageing and suggest a model of lifespan regulation by fatty acid-mediated membrane configuration. The membrane lipids change with ageing and function as regulatory molecules, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, the authors identify C22 glucosylceramide as a regulator of the longevity transcription factor SKN-1, and show that C22 glucosylceramide regulates lifespan by controlling lysosome homeostasis and subsequent TOR activation.
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Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant cellular antioxidant. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) are widely believed to promote aging and age-related diseases, and antioxidants can neutralize ROS, it follows that GSH and its precursor, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), are among the most popular dietary supplements. However, the long- term effects of GSH or NAC on healthy animals have not been thoroughly investigated. We employed C. elegans to demonstrate that chronic administration of GSH or NAC to young or aged animals perturbs global gene expression, inhibits skn-1-mediated transcription, and accelerates aging. In contrast, limiting the consumption of dietary thiols, including those naturally derived from the microbiota, extended lifespan. Pharmacological GSH restriction activates the unfolded protein response and increases proteotoxic stress resistance in worms and human cells. It is thus advantageous for healthy individuals to avoid excessive dietary antioxidants and, instead, rely on intrinsic GSH biosynthesis, which is fine-tuned to match the cellular redox status and to promote homeostatic ROS signaling.
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Feng D, Zhai Z, Shao Z, Zhang Y, Powell-Coffman JA. Crosstalk in oxygen homeostasis networks: SKN-1/NRF inhibits the HIF-1 hypoxia-inducible factor in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249103. [PMID: 34242227 PMCID: PMC8270126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, homeostasis, and disease, organisms must balance responses that allow adaptation to low oxygen (hypoxia) with those that protect cells from oxidative stress. The evolutionarily conserved hypoxia-inducible factors are central to these processes, as they orchestrate transcriptional responses to oxygen deprivation. Here, we employ genetic strategies in C. elegans to identify stress-responsive genes and pathways that modulate the HIF-1 hypoxia-inducible factor and facilitate oxygen homeostasis. Through a genome-wide RNAi screen, we show that RNAi-mediated mitochondrial or proteasomal dysfunction increases the expression of hypoxia-responsive reporter Pnhr-57::GFP in C. elegans. Interestingly, only a subset of these effects requires hif-1. Of particular importance, we found that skn-1 RNAi increases the expression of hypoxia-responsive reporter Pnhr-57::GFP and elevates HIF-1 protein levels. The SKN-1/NRF transcription factor has been shown to promote oxidative stress resistance. We present evidence that the crosstalk between HIF-1 and SKN-1 is mediated by EGL-9, the prolyl hydroxylase that targets HIF-1 for oxygen-dependent degradation. Treatment that induces SKN-1, such as heat or gsk-3 RNAi, increases expression of a Pegl-9::GFP reporter, and this effect requires skn-1 function and a putative SKN-1 binding site in egl-9 regulatory sequences. Collectively, these data support a model in which SKN-1 promotes egl-9 transcription, thereby inhibiting HIF-1. We propose that this interaction enables animals to adapt quickly to changes in cellular oxygenation and to better survive accompanying oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxia Feng
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JAP-C); (DF)
| | - Zhiwei Zhai
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Zhiyong Shao
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jo Anne Powell-Coffman
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JAP-C); (DF)
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Ow MC, Nichitean AM, Hall SE. Somatic aging pathways regulate reproductive plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2021; 10:61459. [PMID: 34236316 PMCID: PMC8291976 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In animals, early-life stress can result in programmed changes in gene expression that can affect their adult phenotype. In C. elegans nematodes, starvation during the first larval stage promotes entry into a stress-resistant dauer stage until environmental conditions improve. Adults that have experienced dauer (postdauers) retain a memory of early-life starvation that results in gene expression changes and reduced fecundity. Here, we show that the endocrine pathways attributed to the regulation of somatic aging in C. elegans adults lacking a functional germline also regulate the reproductive phenotypes of postdauer adults that experienced early-life starvation. We demonstrate that postdauer adults reallocate fat to benefit progeny at the expense of the parental somatic fat reservoir and exhibit increased longevity compared to controls. Our results also show that the modification of somatic fat stores due to parental starvation memory is inherited in the F1 generation and may be the result of crosstalk between somatic and reproductive tissues mediated by the germline nuclear RNAi pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Ow
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, United States
| | | | - Sarah E Hall
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, United States
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