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Bhar S, Yoon CS, Mai K, Han J, Prajapati DV, Wang Y, Steffen CL, Bailey LS, Basso KB, Butcher RA. An acyl-CoA thioesterase is essential for the biosynthesis of a key dauer pheromone in C. elegans. Cell Chem Biol 2024:S2451-9456(23)00437-3. [PMID: 38183989 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Methyl ketone (MK)-ascarosides represent essential components of several pheromones in Caenorhabditis elegans, including the dauer pheromone, which triggers the stress-resistant dauer larval stage, and the male-attracting sex pheromone. Here, we identify an acyl-CoA thioesterase, ACOT-15, that is required for the biosynthesis of MK-ascarosides. We propose a model in which ACOT-15 hydrolyzes the β-keto acyl-CoA side chain of an ascaroside intermediate during β-oxidation, leading to decarboxylation and formation of the MK. Using comparative metabolomics, we identify additional ACOT-15-dependent metabolites, including an unusual piperidyl-modified ascaroside, reminiscent of the alkaloid pelletierine. The β-keto acid generated by ACOT-15 likely couples to 1-piperideine to produce the piperidyl ascaroside, which is much less dauer-inducing than the dauer pheromone, asc-C6-MK (ascr#2, 1). The bacterial food provided influences production of the piperidyl ascaroside by the worm. Our work shows how the biosynthesis of MK- and piperidyl ascarosides intersect and how bacterial food may impact chemical signaling in the worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhradeep Bhar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Chi-Su Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kevin Mai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Jungsoo Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Dilip V Prajapati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Candy L Steffen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Laura S Bailey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kari B Basso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Rebecca A Butcher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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Lee D, Fox BW, Palomino DF, Panda O, Tenjo FJ, Koury EJ, Evans KS, Stevens L, Rodrigues PR, Kolodziej AR, Schroeder FC, Andersen EC. Natural genetic variation in the pheromone production of C. elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221150120. [PMID: 37339205 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221150120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
From bacterial quorum sensing to human language, communication is essential for social interactions. Nematodes produce and sense pheromones to communicate among individuals and respond to environmental changes. These signals are encoded by different types and mixtures of ascarosides, whose modular structures further enhance the diversity of this nematode pheromone language. Interspecific and intraspecific differences in this ascaroside pheromone language have been described previously, but the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying the variation remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed natural variation in the production of 44 ascarosides across 95 wild Caenorhabditis elegans strains using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We discovered wild strains defective in the production of specific subsets of ascarosides (e.g., the aggregation pheromone icas#9) or short- and medium-chain ascarosides, as well as inversely correlated patterns between the production of two major classes of ascarosides. We investigated genetic variants that are significantly associated with the natural differences in the composition of the pheromone bouquet, including rare genetic variants in key enzymes participating in ascaroside biosynthesis, such as the peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, daf-22, and the carboxylesterase cest-3. Genome-wide association mappings revealed genomic loci harboring common variants that affect ascaroside profiles. Our study yields a valuable dataset for investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of chemical communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daehan Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
- Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Bennett W Fox
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Diana Fajardo Palomino
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Oishika Panda
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Francisco J Tenjo
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Emily J Koury
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Kathryn S Evans
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Lewis Stevens
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro R Rodrigues
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Aiden R Kolodziej
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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.
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Park S, Park JY, Paik YK. A Molecular Basis for Reciprocal Regulation between Pheromones and Hormones in Response to Dietary Cues in C. elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072366. [PMID: 32235409 PMCID: PMC7177881 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Under stressful conditions, the early larvae of C. elegans enter dauer diapause, a non-aging period, driven by the seemingly opposite influence of ascaroside pheromones (ASCRs) and steroid hormone dafachronic acids (DAs). However, the molecular basis of how these small molecules engage in competitive crosstalk in coordination with insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) remains elusive. Here we report a novel transcriptional regulatory pathway that seems to operate between the ASCR and DA biosynthesis under ad libitum (AL) feeding conditions or bacterial deprivation (BD). Although expression of the ASCR and DA biosynthetic genes reciprocally inhibit each other, ironically and interestingly, such dietary cue-mediated modulation requires the presence of the competitors. Under BD, induction of ASCR biosynthetic gene expression required DA, while ASCR suppresses the expression of the DA biosynthetic gene daf-36. The negative regulation of DA by ASCR was IIS-dependent, whereas daf-36 regulation appeared to be independent of IIS. These observations suggest that the presence of ASCR determines the IIS-dependency of DA gene expression regardless of dietary conditions. Thus, our work defines a molecular basis for a novel reciprocal gene regulation of pheromones and hormones to cope with stressful conditions during development and aging.
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Joo HJ, Park S, Kim KY, Kim MY, Kim H, Park D, Paik YK. HSF-1 is involved in regulation of ascaroside pheromone biosynthesis by heat stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochem J 2016; 473:789-96. [PMID: 26759377 DOI: 10.1042/BJ20150938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans survives by adapting to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes by increasing the concentrations of ascaroside pheromones, termed ascarosides or daumones, which signal early C. elegans larvae to enter a non-aging dauer state for long-term survival. It is well known that production of ascarosides is stimulated by heat stress, resulting in enhanced dauer formation by which worms can adapt to environmental insults. However, the molecular mechanism by which ascaroside pheromone biosynthesis is stimulated by heat stress remains largely unknown. In the present study, we show that the heat-shock transcription factor HSF-1 can mediate enhanced ascaroside pheromone biosynthesis in response to heat stress by activating the peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation genes in C. elegans. To explore the potential molecular mechanisms, we examined the four major genes involved in the ascaroside biosynthesis pathway and then quantified the changes in both the expression of these genes and ascaroside production under heat-stress conditions. The transcriptional activation of ascaroside pheromone biosynthesis genes by HSF-1 was quite notable, which is not only supported by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, but also accompanied by the enhanced production of chemically detectable major ascarosides (e.g. daumones 1 and 3). Consequently, the dauer formation rate was significantly increased by the ascaroside pheromone extracts from N2 wild-type but not from hsf-1(sy441) mutant animals grown under heat-stress conditions. Hence heat-stress-enhanced ascaroside production appears to be mediated at least in part by HSF-1, which seems to be important in adaptation strategies for coping with heat stress in this nematode.
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Zhang X, Feng L, Chinta S, Singh P, Wang Y, Nunnery JK, Butcher RA. Acyl-CoA oxidase complexes control the chemical message produced by Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:3955-60. [PMID: 25775534 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1423951112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans uses ascaroside pheromones to induce development of the stress-resistant dauer larval stage and to coordinate various behaviors. Peroxisomal β-oxidation cycles are required for the biosynthesis of the fatty acid-derived side chains of the ascarosides. Here we show that three acyl-CoA oxidases, which catalyze the first step in these β-oxidation cycles, form different protein homo- and heterodimers with distinct substrate preferences. Mutations in the acyl-CoA oxidase genes acox-1, -2, and -3 led to specific defects in ascaroside production. When the acyl-CoA oxidases were expressed alone or in pairs and purified, the resulting acyl-CoA oxidase homo- and heterodimers displayed different side-chain length preferences in an in vitro activity assay. Specifically, an ACOX-1 homodimer controls the production of ascarosides with side chains with nine or fewer carbons, an ACOX-1/ACOX-3 heterodimer controls the production of those with side chains with seven or fewer carbons, and an ACOX-2 homodimer controls the production of those with ω-side chains with less than five carbons. Our results support a biosynthetic model in which β-oxidation enzymes act directly on the CoA-thioesters of ascaroside biosynthetic precursors. Furthermore, we identify environmental conditions, including high temperature and low food availability, that induce the expression of acox-2 and/or acox-3 and lead to corresponding changes in ascaroside production. Thus, our work uncovers an important mechanism by which C. elegans increases the production of the most potent dauer pheromones, those with the shortest side chains, under specific environmental conditions.
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Diaz SA, Brunet V, Lloyd-Jones GC, Spinner W, Wharam B, Viney M. Diverse and potentially manipulative signalling with ascarosides in the model nematode C. elegans. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:46. [PMID: 24618411 PMCID: PMC4007702 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-14-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals use environmental information to make developmental decisions to maximise their fitness. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans measures its environment to decide between arresting development as dauer larvae or continuing to grow and reproduce. Worms are thought to use ascarosides as signals of population density and this signalling is thought to be a species-wide honest signal. We compared recently wild C. elegans lines' dauer larva arrest when presented with the same ascaroside signals and in different food environments. RESULTS We find that the hitherto canonical dauer larva response does not hold among these lines. Ascaroside molecules can, depending on the food environment, both promote and repress dauer larva formation. Further, these recently wild C. elegans lines also produce ascaroside mixtures that induce a wide diversity of dauer larva formation responses. We further find that the lines differ in the quantity and ratios of ascaroside molecules that they release. Some of the dauer larva formation responses are consistent with dishonest signalling. CONCLUSIONS Together, the results suggest that the idea that dauer larva formation is an honestly-signalled C. elegans-wide effect does not hold. Rather, the results suggest that ascaroside-based signalling is a public broadcast information system, but where the correct interpretation of that information depends on the worms' context, and is a system open to dishonest signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Anaid Diaz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
- Present Address: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Vincent Brunet
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Guy C Lloyd-Jones
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - William Spinner
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Barney Wharam
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Mark Viney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
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