Functional analysis of conserved C. elegans bHLH family members uncovers lifespan control by a peptidergic hub neuron
PLoS Biology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
23(1), С. e3002979 - e3002979
Опубликована: Янв. 6, 2025
Throughout
the
animal
kingdom,
several
members
of
basic
helix-loop-helix
(bHLH)
family
act
as
proneural
genes
during
early
steps
nervous
system
development.
Roles
bHLH
in
specifying
terminal
differentiation
postmitotic
neurons
have
been
less
extensively
studied.
We
analyze
here
function
5
Caenorhabditis
elegans
genes,
falling
into
3
phylogenetically
conserved
subfamilies,
which
are
continuously
expressed
a
very
small
number
central
system.
show
(a)
that
2
orthologs
vertebrate
bHLHe22/e23
called
hlh-17
and
hlh-32,
redundantly
to
specify
identity
single
head
interneuron
class
(AUA),
well
an
individual
motor
neuron
(VB2);
(b)
PTF1a
ortholog
hlh-13
acts
selector
control
sole
octopaminergic
C.
elegans,
RIC;
(c)
NHLH1/2
hlh-15
controls
peptidergic
AVK
class,
known
neuropeptidergic
signaling
hub
animal.
Strikingly,
through
null
mutant
analysis
cell-specific
rescue
experiments,
we
find
loss
hlh-15/NHLH
resulting
abrogation
neuropeptide
secretion
from
these
causes
substantially
extended
lifespan
animal,
propose
be
akin
hypothalamic
vertebrates.
Our
functional
reveals
themes
gene
complementary
earlier
lineage
specification
roles
other
members.
However,
such
late
functions
much
more
sparsely
employed
by
transcription
factor
family,
compared
broadly
homeodomain
family.
Язык: Английский
C. elegans wired and wireless connectome: insights into principles of nervous system structure and function
Journal of Biosciences,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
50(1)
Опубликована: Март 12, 2025
Язык: Английский
Food sensing controls C. elegans reproductive behavior by neuromodulatory disinhibition
Science Advances,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
11(16)
Опубликована: Апрель 16, 2025
Like
many
organisms,
the
roundworm
Caenorhabditis
elegans
incorporates
an
assessment
of
environmental
quality
into
its
reproductive
strategy.
C.
hermaphrodites
release
fertilized
eggs
food-rich
environments
but
retain
them
in
absence
food.
Here,
we
report
discovery
a
neural
circuit
required
for
modulation
behavior
by
food
sensing.
A
mutation
that
electrically
silences
AVK
interneurons
uncouples
egg
laying
from
detection
cues.
We
find
activity
inhibits
laying,
and
AVKs
themselves
are
inhibited
dopamine
released
food-sensing
neurons.
express
large
number
structurally
functionally
diverse
neuropeptides.
Coordination
requires
subset
neuropeptides
converge
on
small
ensemble
premotor
neurons
coexpress
their
cognate
receptors.
Modulation
behavior,
therefore,
cascade
neuromodulatory
signals
uses
disinhibition
combinatorial
neuropeptide
to
activate
when
is
sensed.
Язык: Английский
Molecular patterns of evolutionary changes throughout the whole nervous system of multiple nematode species
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Ноя. 25, 2024
One
avenue
to
better
understand
brain
evolution
is
map
molecular
patterns
of
evolutionary
changes
in
neuronal
cell
types
across
entire
nervous
systems
distantly
related
species.
Generating
whole-animal
single-cell
transcriptomes
three
nematode
species
from
the
Язык: Английский
An integrative data-driven model simulating C. elegans brain, body and environment interactions
Nature Computational Science,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Дек. 16, 2024
The
behavior
of
an
organism
is
influenced
by
the
complex
interplay
between
its
brain,
body
and
environment.
Existing
data-driven
models
focus
on
either
brain
or
body–environment.
Here
we
present
BAAIWorm,
integrative
model
Caenorhabditis
elegans,
which
consists
two
submodels:
body–environment
model.
was
built
multicompartment
with
realistic
morphology,
connectome
neural
population
dynamics
based
experimental
data.
Simultaneously,
used
a
lifelike
three-dimensional
physical
Through
closed-loop
interaction
submodels,
BAAIWorm
reproduced
zigzag
movement
toward
attractors
observed
in
C.
elegans.
Leveraging
this
model,
investigated
impact
system
structure
both
activities
behaviors.
Consequently,
can
enhance
our
understanding
how
controls
to
interact
surrounding
elegans
that
simulates
interactions
biophysically
detailed
neuronal
capable
replicating
species.
Язык: Английский