1
|
Faerberg DF, Aprison EZ, Ruvinsky I. Accelerated hermaphrodite maturation on male pheromones suggests a general principle of coordination between larval behavior and development. Development 2024; 151:dev202961. [PMID: 38975828 PMCID: PMC11266794 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202961] [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: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Environment in general and social signals in particular could alter development. In Caenorhabditis elegans, male pheromones hasten development of hermaphrodite larvae. We show that this involves acceleration of growth and both somatic and germline development during the last larval stage (L4). Larvae exposed to male pheromones spend more time in L3 and less in the quiescent period between L3 and L4. This behavioral alteration improves provision in early L4, likely allowing for faster development. Larvae must be exposed to male pheromones in late L3 for behavioral and developmental effects to occur. Latter portions of other larval stages also contain periods of heightened sensitivity to environmental signals. Behavior during the early part of the larval stages is biased toward exploration, whereas later the emphasis shifts to food consumption. We argue that this organization allows assessment of the environment to identify the most suitable patch of resources, followed by acquisition of sufficient nutrition and salient information for the developmental events in the next larval stage. Evidence from other species indicates that such coordination of behavior and development may be a general feature of larval development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis F. Faerberg
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Erin Z. Aprison
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Ilya Ruvinsky
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Szczepańska A, Olek K, Kołodziejska K, Yu J, Ibrahim AT, Adamkiewicz L, Schroeder FC, Pokrzywa W, Turek M. Pheromone-based communication influences the production of somatic extracellular vesicles in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2715. [PMID: 38548742 PMCID: PMC10978837 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47016-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are integral to numerous biological processes, yet it is unclear how environmental factors or interactions among individuals within a population affect EV-regulated systems. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the evolutionarily conserved large EVs, known as exophers, are part of a maternal somatic tissue resource management system. Consequently, the offspring of individuals exhibiting active exopher biogenesis (exophergenesis) develop faster. Our research focuses on unraveling the complex inter-tissue and social dynamics that govern exophergenesis. We found that ascr#10, the primary male pheromone, enhances exopher production in hermaphrodites, mediated by the G-protein-coupled receptor STR-173 in ASK sensory neurons. In contrast, pheromone produced by other hermaphrodites, ascr#3, diminishes exophergenesis within the population. This process is regulated via the neuropeptides FLP-8 and FLP-21, which originate from the URX and AQR/PQR/URX neurons, respectively. Our results reveal a regulatory network that controls the production of somatic EV by the nervous system in response to social signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agata Szczepańska
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Olek
- Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Klaudia Kołodziejska
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jingfang Yu
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Abdulrahman Tudu Ibrahim
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Laura Adamkiewicz
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Wojciech Pokrzywa
- Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Michał Turek
- Laboratory of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kang WK, Florman JT, Araya A, Fox BW, Thackeray A, Schroeder FC, Walhout AJM, Alkema MJ. Vitamin B 12 produced by gut bacteria modulates cholinergic signalling. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:72-85. [PMID: 38168768 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01299-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that gut microbiota influence brain function and behaviour. However, the molecular basis of how gut bacteria modulate host nervous system function is largely unknown. Here we show that vitamin B12-producing bacteria that colonize the intestine can modulate excitatory cholinergic signalling and behaviour in the host Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we demonstrate that vitamin B12 reduces cholinergic signalling in the nervous system through rewiring of the methionine (Met)/S-adenosylmethionine cycle in the intestine. We identify a conserved metabolic crosstalk between the methionine/S-adenosylmethionine cycle and the choline-oxidation pathway. In addition, we show that metabolic rewiring of these pathways by vitamin B12 reduces cholinergic signalling by limiting the availability of free choline required by neurons to synthesize acetylcholine. Our study reveals a gut-brain communication pathway by which enteric bacteria modulate host behaviour and may affect neurological health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Woo Kyu Kang
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy T Florman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Antonia Araya
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Bennett W Fox
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Thackeray
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Albertha J M Walhout
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Mark J Alkema
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zeng WX, Liu H, Hao Y, Qian KY, Tian FM, Li L, Yu B, Zeng XT, Gao S, Hu Z, Tong XJ. CaMKII mediates sexually dimorphic synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in C. elegans. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202301117. [PMID: 37624117 PMCID: PMC10457463 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202301117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic behaviors are ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom. Although both sex-specific and sex-shared neurons have been functionally implicated in these diverse behaviors, less is known about the roles of sex-shared neurons. Here, we discovered sexually dimorphic cholinergic synaptic transmission in C. elegans occurring at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), with males exhibiting increased release frequencies, which result in sexually dimorphic locomotion behaviors. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that males have significantly more synaptic vesicles (SVs) at their cholinergic synapses than hermaphrodites. Analysis of previously published transcriptome identified the male-enriched transcripts and focused our attention on UNC-43/CaMKII. We ultimately show that differential accumulation of UNC-43 at cholinergic neurons controls axonal SV abundance and synaptic transmission. Finally, we demonstrate that sex reversal of all neurons in hermaphrodites generates male-like cholinergic transmission and locomotion behaviors. Thus, beyond demonstrating UNC-43/CaMKII as an essential mediator of sex-specific synaptic transmission, our study provides molecular and cellular insights into how sex-shared neurons can generate sexually dimorphic locomotion behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Xin Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kang-Ying Qian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fu-Min Tian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bin Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xian-Ting Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shangbang Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
| | - Xia-Jing Tong
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Salzberg Y, Haque R, Oren-Suissa M. The synaptic basis for sexual dimorphism in the invertebrate nervous system. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 82:102757. [PMID: 37572555 PMCID: PMC10506627 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Many animal behaviors are manifested differently in the two sexes of a given species, but how such sexual dimorphism is imprinted in the nervous system is not always clear. One mechanism involved is synaptic dimorphism, by which the same neurons exist in the two sexes, but form synapses that differ in features such as anatomy, molecular content or fate. While some evidence for synaptic dimorphism exists in humans and mammals, identifying these mechanisms in invertebrates has proven simpler, due to their smaller nervous systems and absence of external regulation by sex hormones. This review aims to present the current status of the field in invertebrates, the available toolkit for the study of synaptic dimorphism, and the standing questions that still remain incompletely answered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Brain Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Rizwanul Haque
- Department of Brain Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Faerberg DF, Aprison EZ, Ruvinsky I. Periods of environmental sensitivity couple larval behavior and development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552015. [PMID: 37609125 PMCID: PMC10441318 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The typical life cycle in most animal phyla includes a larval period that bridges embryogenesis and adulthood1. Despite the great diversity of larval forms, all larvae grow, acquire adult morphology and function, while navigating their habitats to obtain resources necessary for development. How larval development is coordinated with behavior remains substantially unclear. Here, we describe features of the iterative organization of larval stages that serve to assess the environment and procure resources prior to costly developmental commitments. We found that male-excreted pheromones accelerate2-4 the onset of adulthood in C. elegans hermaphrodites by coordinately advancing multiple developmental events and growth during the last larval stage. The larvae are sensitive to the accelerating male pheromones only at the end of the penultimate larval stage, just before the acceleration begins. Other larval stages also contain windows of sensitivity to environmental inputs. Importantly, behaviors associated with search and consumption of food are distinct between early and late portions of larval stages. We infer that each larval stage in C. elegans is subdivided into two epochs: A) global assessment of the environment to identify the most suitable patch and B) consumption of sufficient food and acquisition of salient information for developmental events in the next stage. We predict that in larvae of other species behavior is also divided into distinct epochs optimized either for assessing the habitat or obtaining the resources. Thus, a major role of larval behavior is to coordinate the orderly progression of development in variable environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis F. Faerberg
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Erin Z. Aprison
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Ilya Ruvinsky
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Peng JY, Liu X, Zeng XT, Hao Y, Zhang JH, Li Q, Tong XJ. Early pheromone perception remodels neurodevelopment and accelerates neurodegeneration in adult C. elegans. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112598. [PMID: 37289584 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are mainly caused by protein aggregation. The etiologies of these neurodegenerative diseases share a chemical environment. However, how chemical cues modulate neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we found that in Caenorhabditis elegans, exposure to pheromones in the L1 stage accelerates neurodegeneration in adults. Perception of pheromones ascr#3 and ascr#10 is mediated by chemosensory neurons ASK and ASI. ascr#3 perceived by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) DAF-38 in ASK activates glutamatergic transmission into AIA interneurons. ascr#10 perceived by GPCR STR-2 in ASI activates the secretion of neuropeptide NLP-1, which binds to the NPR-11 receptor in AIA. Activation of both ASI and ASK is required and sufficient to remodel neurodevelopment via AIA, which triggers insulin-like signaling and inhibits autophagy in adult neurons non-cell-autonomously. Our work reveals how pheromone perception at the early developmental stage modulates neurodegeneration in adults and provides insights into how the external environment impacts neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yi Peng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuqing Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xian-Ting Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia-Hui Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qian Li
- Songjiang Institute and Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China; Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia-Jing Tong
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hao Y, Liu H, Zeng XT, Wang Y, Zeng WX, Qian KY, Li L, Chi MX, Gao S, Hu Z, Tong XJ. UNC-43/CaMKII-triggered anterograde signals recruit GABA ARs to mediate inhibitory synaptic transmission and plasticity at C. elegans NMJs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1436. [PMID: 36918518 PMCID: PMC10015018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37137-0] [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: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Disturbed inhibitory synaptic transmission has functional impacts on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. An essential mechanism for modulating inhibitory synaptic transmission is alteration of the postsynaptic abundance of GABAARs, which are stabilized by postsynaptic scaffold proteins and recruited by presynaptic signals. However, how GABAergic neurons trigger signals to transsynaptically recruit GABAARs remains elusive. Here, we show that UNC-43/CaMKII functions at GABAergic neurons to recruit GABAARs and modulate inhibitory synaptic transmission at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions. We demonstrate that UNC-43 promotes presynaptic MADD-4B/Punctin secretion and NRX-1α/Neurexin surface delivery. Together, MADD-4B and NRX-1α recruit postsynaptic NLG-1/Neuroligin and stabilize GABAARs. Further, the excitation of GABAergic neurons potentiates the recruitment of NLG-1-stabilized-GABAARs, which depends on UNC-43, MADD-4B, and NRX-1. These data all support that UNC-43 triggers MADD-4B and NRX-1α, which act as anterograde signals to recruit postsynaptic GABAARs. Thus, our findings elucidate a mechanism for pre- and postsynaptic communication and inhibitory synaptic transmission and plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Haowen Liu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Xian-Ting Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ya Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wan-Xin Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Kang-Ying Qian
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Lei Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ming-Xuan Chi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Shangbang Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhitao Hu
- Queensland Brain Institute, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Xia-Jing Tong
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li N, Hua B, Chen Q, Teng F, Ruan M, Zhu M, Zhang L, Huo Y, Liu H, Zhuang M, Shen H, Zhu H. A sphingolipid-mTORC1 nutrient-sensing pathway regulates animal development by an intestinal peroxisome relocation-based gut-brain crosstalk. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111140. [PMID: 35905721 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111140] [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: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mTOR-dependent nutrient-sensing and response machinery is the central hub for animals to regulate their cellular and developmental programs. However, equivalently pivotal nutrient and metabolite signals upstream of mTOR and developmental-regulatory signals downstream of mTOR are not clear, especially at the organism level. We previously showed glucosylceramide (GlcCer) acts as a critical nutrient and metabolite signal for overall amino acid levels to promote development by activating the intestinal mTORC1 signaling pathway. Here, through a large-scale genetic screen, we find that the intestinal peroxisome is critical for antagonizing the GlcCer-mTORC1-mediated nutrient signal. Mechanistically, GlcCer deficiency, inactive mTORC1, or prolonged starvation relocates intestinal peroxisomes closer to the apical region in a kinesin- and microtubule-dependent manner. Those apical accumulated peroxisomes further release peroxisomal-β-oxidation-derived glycolipid hormones that target chemosensory neurons and downstream nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 to arrest the animal development. Our data illustrate a sophisticated gut-brain axis that predominantly orchestrates nutrient-sensing-dependent development in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Beilei Hua
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qing Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Fukang Teng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Meiyu Ruan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Mengnan Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yinbo Huo
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Hongqin Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Min Zhuang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Huali Shen
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Huanhu Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yan Z, Cheng X, Li Y, Su Z, Zhou Y, Liu J. Sexually Dimorphic Neurotransmitter Release at the Neuromuscular Junction in Adult Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:780396. [PMID: 35173578 PMCID: PMC8841764 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.780396] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic differentiation of sex-shared behaviors is observed across the animal world, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report sexual dimorphism in neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of adult Caenorhabditis elegans. Studying worm locomotion confirms sex differences in spontaneous locomotion of adult animals, and quantitative fluorescence analysis shows that excitatory cholinergic synapses, but not inhibitory GABAergic synapses exhibit the adult-specific difference in synaptic vesicles between males and hermaphrodites. Electrophysiological recording from the NMJ of C. elegans not only reveals an enhanced neurotransmitter release but also demonstrates increased sensitivity of synaptic exocytosis to extracellular calcium concentration in adult males. Furthermore, the cholinergic synapses in adult males are characterized with weaker synaptic depression but faster vesicle replenishment than that in hermaphrodites. Interestingly, T-type calcium channels/CCA-1 play a male-specific role in acetylcholine release at the NMJs in adult animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate sexually dimorphic differentiation of synaptic mechanisms at the C. elegans NMJs, and thus provide a new mechanistic insight into how biological sex shapes animal behaviors through sex-shared neurons and circuits.
Collapse
|