Dolanchanpa Ghosh et al. (2003) International Worm Meeting "Structure-function analysis of the PIE-1 protein to elucidate its role in germline development."

Dolanchanpa Ghosh, Geraldine Seydoux

[International Worm Meeting, 2003]

C.elegans protein PIE-1 is a component of the germ plasm essential for the specification and development of the embryonic germline. PIE-1 has at least two functions in germline blastomeres: it represses mRNA transcription in the nuclei, and regulates the expression of the maternal RNA, nos-2 in the cytoplasm. We are interested in how these two functions are carried out and how they influence germline development. Our approach is to create transgenic worms that express the PIE-1 protein bearing mutations in different domains. Conventional transformation methods yield transgenes that are quickly silenced in the germline, making detailed phenotypic analysis difficult.We have therefore adopted the microparticle bombardment method to create low-copy integrative transformants(1). Ingrid Dagostino in the lab has created a GATEWAY-based pie-1 expression vector, containing unc-119 gene as a selection marker. Using this vector, Ingrid was able to obtain a GFP:PIE-1 line, which fully rescues a pie-1(0) mutant and has remained stable for over 20 generations. We are now in the process of generating similar lines with mutant versions of PIE-1. 1.Praitis V, Casey E, Collar D,and Austin J.(2001). Creation of low-copy integrated transgenic lines in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2001 Mar;157(3):1217-1226

BC Prasad et al. (1999) International C. elegans Meeting "The unc-3 locus encodes an O/E transcription factor, CeO/E, which is required for axonal guidance and chemosensory function."

BC Prasad, RR Reed

[International C. elegans Meeting, 1999]

The O/E family of rHLH transcription factors has been implicated in neurogenesis, axonal pathfinding, muscle formation and B cell maturation. The murine O/E proteins are expressed transiently in the developing CNS and PNS during times of axonogenesis and are expressed in olfactory neurons throughout development where they may regulate components of the olfactory signaling cascade. We have identified a C. elegans O/E homologue (CeO/E) that is encoded by the unc-3 locus. Unc-3 mutants display an uncoordinated phenotype attributed to a severe defasiculation and miswiring of the ventral cord (VNC). Using a GFP fusion to the unc-3 promoter and specific antibodies, we observed that CeO/E is expressed transiently in the excitatory VNC motor neurons and throughout development in a pair of chemosensory neurons (ASI amphid neurons). Several observations suggest that the protein may have distinct roles in the two cell types. Although the axonal and dendritic projections of the ASI appear to be normal when labeled with DiI, unc-3 mutants enter the dauer pathway under inappropriate conditions. Although CeO/E possesses highly conserved domains associated with DNA binding in the mammalian homologue, identification of DNA binding sites for the C. elegans protein has not been achieved. We have shown that CeO/E protein can homodimerize in vitro, although the DNA binding specificity of CeO/E is distinct from the mammalian O/E proteins. Several unc-3 target genes ( daf-7, unc-17/cha-1, unc-4 ) have been identified by other laboratories and each contains a mammalian binding site in the promoter region. Remarkably, we have been unable to demonstrate CeO/E binding at these sites. We are generating chimeras of O/E-1 and CeO/E to understand the DNA binding specificity of the CeO/E protein and utilizing a yeast-2-hybrid screen with both O/E-1 and CeO/E to identify interacting proteins in C. elegans . These studies should reveal the mechanism of CeO/E transcriptional activation and target gene regulation.

Yuen, Grace J. et al. (2013) International Worm Meeting "Enterococcus infection of C. elegans as a model of innate immunity."

Yuen, Grace J., Ausubel, Frederick M.

[International Worm Meeting, 2013]

Enterococcus is a Gram-positive commensal that is also an important opportunistic pathogen. Most human enterococcal infections are caused by either E. faecalis or E. faecium. Our laboratory has modeled Enterococcus infection in C. elegans using both species. We have previously shown that infection with either species leads to gut distention, but only E. faecalis is able to establish a persistent and lethal infection in the nematode. We now provide evidence that at least three canonical C. elegans immune signaling pathways are important for survival during infection with E. faecalis and E. faecium. While the lifespan of wild-type worms is unaffected by E. faecium infection, mutations in the PMK-1, FSHR-1, and BAR-1 immune signaling pathways lead to an immunocompromised phenotype. This new finding suggests that an active host response is required to keep E. faecium infection "in check" in the worm intestine. To further characterize the C. elegans host response to Enterococcus infections, we used genome-wide transcriptional profiling of nematodes feeding on E. faecalis and E. faecium, as well as two controls, heat-killed E. coli and live Bacillus subtilis, a non-pathogenic Gram-positive. We found that relative to B. subtilis, E. faecalis and E. faecium caused the upregulation of 249 and 166 genes, respectively, of which 105 genes were common to both, comprising the Enterococcus gene signature. Shared by both Enterococcus infection signatures were genes relating to oxidation/reduction, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase/oxidase activity, fatty acid metabolism, and C-type lectins. Additionally, the Enterococcus infection gene signature is fairly distinct from the P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and C. albicans infection signatures. Furthermore, of the 91 genes that are upregulated in E. faecalis (more virulent) relative to E. faecium (less virulent), 22 are shared with the 77 genes upregulated in worms infected with virulent Microbacterium nematophilum relative to avirulent M. nematophilum (O'Rourke et al., 2006), suggesting that these genes may comprise a "virulence response signature." Studies are underway in understanding the biology of Enterococcus infection in C. elegans and identifying novel Enterococcus-activated pathways.

Yuen, Grace J. et al. (2011) International Worm Meeting "Enterococcus infection of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model of innate immunity."

Ausubel, Frederick M., Pukkila-Worley, Read, Yuen, Grace J.

[International Worm Meeting, 2011]

Enterococcus is a Gram-positive commensal that is found in the gastrointestinal and biliary tracts of all healthy humans. It is also an important opportunistic pathogen, causing nosocomial urinary tract and wound infections that are often complicated by antibiotic drug resistance. Most human enterococcal infections are caused by either E. faecalis or E. faecium. Our laboratory has modeled Enterococcus infection in C. elegans using both strains. We have previously shown that infection with either strain leads to gut distention, but only E. faecalis is able to establish a persistent infection and kill the nematode. We now provide evidence that at least two canonical C. elegans immune signaling pathways are important for survival during infection with both E. faecalis and E. faecium. While the lifespan of wild-type worms is unaffected by an E. faecium infection, mutations in the PMK-1 and FSHR-1 immune signaling pathways lead to an immunocompromised phenotype, where pmk-1 and fshr-1 mutants die rapidly upon E. faecium feeding. This new finding suggests that an active immune response is required to keep E. faecium infection "in check" in the worm intestine, and that E. faecium is indeed pathogenic to the nematode. We are now using microscopy and genetic studies to understand the biology of the Enterococcus infection in C. elegans and to identify novel Enterococcus-activated immune signaling pathways.

Fuentes, A. et al. (2015) International Worm Meeting "Diet affects neurodegenerative processes in C. elegans."

Fuentes, A., Calixto, A., Garcia, V., Palominos, MF.

[International Worm Meeting, 2015]

C. elegans has been used to understand the dietary impact on development and behavior (Macneil & Walhout., 2013), but very little is known about the role of diet on neurodegenerative processes. To study the effect of diet on neuronal degeneration, we use animals expressing the hyperactivated degenerins mec-4d expressed in the touch receptor neurons (TRNs) and deg-1 expressed in the PVC neurons. We measured the impact of different bacterial diets on neuronal integrity in the respective degeneration models. mec-4d animals with GFP marked TRNs were fed with E. coli OP50, B, HT115 and K12; Commamonas aquatica, Commamonas testosteronii and Bacillus megaterium and their TRN integrity assessed both morphologically (by visual inspection) and functionally (by the touch response) at 72 hours where most axons are degenerated (Calixto et al., 2012). The maximum protection was elicited by E. coli HT115 diet, with up to 50% wild type axons while the control strain E. coli OP50 and its precursor B only protects 3% at 72 hours post hatching. Like in the mec-4d animals, deg-1 animals PVC show a higher percent of functional response when animals are fed E. coli HT115. E. coli HT115 is capable of protecting neurons during large periods of time after adulthood since animals at 168 hours post hatching still showed 16.5 % of wild type axons. E. coli K12, Comammonas aquatica, testosteronii and Bacillus megaterium protected less (between 10 and 17% of wild type axons) than E. coli HT115 and more than E. coli OP50. E. coli HT115 is still capable of generating neuroprotection when diluted 1:100 in E. coli OP50, showing that E. coli OP50 does not produce neurodegeneration. Additionally, this shows that a very small amount of the protective food is necessary to elicit neuronal protection. E. coli HT115 does not produce dietary restriction and supports well animal growth, with 100% animals reaching adulthood at 72 hours vs 100% in E. coli OP50. Dead bacteria produce the same levels of neuronal protection than live bacteria, indicating that the interaction between bacteria and intestine is not required. Our data suggest that E. coli HT115 is capable of triggering pathways involved in neuroprotective processes early in animal development (first 12 hrs after hatching), highlighting the relevance of developmental time when the protective diet is ingested. We are currently performing transcriptomics analysis to identify the bacterial components from E. coli HT115 that mediate neuroprotection.

Prasad BC et al. (1998) East Coast Worm Meeting "The O/E transcription factor, UNC-3, is required for axonal guidance and ASI function"

Reed RR, Seydoux GC, Prasad BC

[East Coast Worm Meeting, 1998]

The O/E family of vertebrate rHLH transcription factors has been implicated in neurogenesis and axonal pathfinding. The mammalian O/E proteins are expressed transiently in the developing CNS and PNS during times of axonogenesis. A Xenopus O/E homologue, Xcoe2, functions downstream of neurogenin and upstream of neuroD in neurogenesis. The murine O/E members are also expressed in olfactory neurons throughout development and may regulate components of the odorant signal transduction cascade. A C. elegans O/E (CeO/E) homologue has been identified in our laboratory and shown to be encoded by the unc-3 locus, mutations which result in an uncoordinated phenotype. Previous electron microscopic reconstruction of unc-3 mutants revealed that the axons of the ventral cord motor neurons are severely defasiculated, the neuromuscular junctions occur at ectopic sites and the motor neurons receive input from inappropriate interneurons as a result of the defasiculation. Using a GFP fusion to the unc-3 promoter and specific antibodies, we observed that CeO/E is expressed in a large subset of the ventral cord motor neurons and in a pair of chemosensory neurons (ASI amphid neurons). The CeO/E protein is expressed transiently, during times of axonogenesis in the ventral nerve cord and throughout development in the ASI neurons. Several observations suggest that the protein may have distinct roles in the two cell types. Specifically, the axonal and dendritic projections of the ASI appear to be normal when labeled with DiI and the unc-3 mutants enter the dauer pathway under inappropriate conditions. There is also evidence for autoregulation of the gene in ASI neurons - the expression of CeO/E is greatly reduced in unc-3 mutants. CeO/E lacks a conserved second repeat helix found that is highly conserved in the mammalian protein. Experiments suggest that CeO/E protein is able to homodimerize in vitro, although the DNA binding specificity of CeO/E is distinct from the mammalian O/E proteins. We are currently identifying the binding site for CeO/E by analysis of sequences essential for regulation of expression in the ASI neurons as well as by specific binding site selection methods (Selex). We are using PCR and differential expression methods to isolate downstream targets of CeO/E that might participate in signaling in the ASI neurons and mediate the axonal pathfinding activities in the ventral nerve cord. The isolation of putative cofactors and downstream targets of CeO/E should provide insight into the function of this transcription factor in neuronal differentiation in C. elegans and vertebrates.

Collar D et al. (2000) Midwest Worm Meeting "Somatic and germ-line expression from low copy integrated transgenic lines"

Praitis V, Collar D, Casey E, Austin JA

[Midwest Worm Meeting, 2000]

We have developed a method for C. elegans transformation that uses microparticle bombardment to produce low and single copy insertions of plasmid DNA into the C. elegans genome. To create integrated transgenic lines, unc-119(ed3) mutants were bombarded with plasmid DNA containing both a transgene and the unc-119 rescuing fragment (Maduro and Pilgrim, 1995). Because unc-119 mutants are unable to form dauers, the untransformed animals starve and die, allowing transformed animals to be easily identified. In our experiments, approximately 25% of the resulting lines were stably transformed, while the remaining lines were semi-stable, suggesting that they contained extra-chromosomal arrays. Using this approach, we have created stable homozygous transgenic lines that typically contain 1-5 copies of the transforming DNA. For several of these lines we have mapped the site of DNA integration. Plasmids used in initial experiments included the sup-7 suppressor tRNA to select for integration events; however, subsequent experiments have shown that sup-7 is not required for integration. We have found that low copy integrated lines can be used to express GFP-reporter constructs in somatic tissues without the variations in expression pattern and level that can be observed in lines containing high copy extrachromosomal arrays. It has been observed that tandemly repeated transgenes in extrachromosomal arrays fail to express in the germ line, although this silencing can be alleviated by making complex arrays that intersperse genomic and transgene DNA (Kelly et al., 1997). We hypothesized that if silencing of germ-line expression from extrachromosomal arrays is due to the presence of tandemly repeated transgenes, then low-copy integrated lines would not be silenced. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that low copy integrated lines containing a GFP::HIS-11 protein fusion expressed under the control of the pie-1 promoter (G. Seydoux, pers. comm.) exhibit consistent and stable germ-line expression. We believe that this alternative approach to C. elegans transformation will prove useful for analysis of germ-line function and of genes whose expression is altered or toxic at high copy levels.

Huayue Ye et al. (2008) "Molecular control of the retrieval and prevention functions in stress-induced learning defects from vitamin E administration in Caenorhabditis elegans"

Dayong Wang, Huayue Ye

[2008]

"Vitamin E (α-tocopherol), a potent radical chain breaking antioxidant, is popularly used as ancillary drug for neurodegeneration disease, oxidative stress-related impairment and cognitive dysfunction. In the current work, we explored the thermosensation model to investigate the effects of vitamin E administration on learning behaviors and the related molecular mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans. In the assay model, administration of 100 μg/mL and 200 μg/mL vitamin E had no significant effects on learning behaviors, whereas relatively high concentration (400 μg/mL) of vitamin E exposure shortened the acquisition period of the association paradigm. Pre-treatment or post-treatment with 200 μg/mL vitamin E could prevent or retrieve and even enhance the UV irradiation- and heavy metal (Al and Pb) exposure- induced learning defects. Moreover, treatment with 200 μg/mL vitamin E could restore the learning formed in the ncs-1 and hen-1 mutant worms, suggesting that vitamin E can largely mimic the function of NCS-1 and HEN-1 in regulating the learning behaviors. In addition, vitamin E could also mimic the function of DEG-1, which plays a key role in the regulation of neurodegeneration, and MEV-1, whose mutation will result an altered sensitivity to oxidative stress. Therefore, our data suggest that the direct association may exist between trace dietary vitamin E intake and learning impairment induced by oxidative stress, and a specific response mechanism may be activated or even be amplified after the administration of vitamin E. Moreover, trace vitamin E administration may ameliorate the metal exposure- and/or the UV irradiation-induced learning impairment at least partially by regulating the NCS-1 functions in learning control in C. elegans."

Prasad BC et al. (1997) International C. elegans Meeting "THE C. ELEGANS unc-3 GENE ENCODES A HOMOLOGUE OF THE O/E FAMILY OF MAMMALIAN TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS"

Prasad BC, Reed RR, Seydoux GC

[International C. elegans Meeting, 1997]

The expression of specialized signal transduction components in mammalian olfactory neurons is thought to be regulated by the O/E (Olf-1/EBF) family of transcription factors. The O/E proteins are expressed in cells of the olfactory neuronal lineage throughout development, and are also expressed transiently in neurons in the developing nervous system during embryogenesis. We have identified a C. elegans homologue of the mammalian O/E proteins, which displays greater than 80% similarity over 350 amino acids. The CeO/E cDNA maps to cosmid F42D1, previously shown to encode unc-3(1). We demonstrate that CeO/E is the product of the unc-3 gene, mutations in which cause defects in the axonal outgrowth of motor neurons as well as defects in dauer formation, a process requiring chemosensory input. Like its mammalian homologues, CeO/E is expressed in certain chemosensory neurons (ASI amphid neurons) throughout development, and is also expressed transiently in developing motor neurons when these cells undergo axonal outgrowth. Currently, we are defining the DNA sequence binding specificity of the CeO/E protein. These observations suggest that the O/E family of transcription factors play a central and evolutionarily conserved role in the expression of proteins essential for axonal pathfinding and neuronal differentiation. (1) Sean Eddy, WBG 12(5):86 (February 1, 1993)

Ryoichi Saiki et al. (2008) C.elegans Aging, Stress, Pathogenesis, and Heterochrony Meeting "Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan is profoundly modulated by its diet of E. coli: What are the roles of E. coli metabolism and coenzyme Q?"

Peter Dang, Tarra Bixler, Catherine Clarke, Pamela Larsen, Ryoichi Saiki, Adam Lunceford, Wendy Lee

[C.elegans Aging, Stress, Pathogenesis, and Heterochrony Meeting, 2008]

Coenzyme Qn is a fully substituted benzoquinone containing a polyisoprene tail of distinct numbers (n) of isoprene groups. Q is an essential component of respiratory electron transport and a potent lipid soluble antioxidant. Extended lifespans are observed in C. elegans clk-1 mutants with defects in Q biosynthesis. Intriguingly, mice heterozygous for a clk-1 gene disruption also show increased lifespan. C. elegans fed E. coli devoid of Q8 have a significant life span extension when compared to C. elegans fed a standard Q-replete E. coli diet. These results initially suggested that the lack of Q is the important parameter affecting lifespan. However, recent results indicate that feeding respiratory incompetent E. coli, whether Q-replete or Q-less, produces a robust lifespan extension in C. elegans. C. elegans skn-1 mutants fed the respiratory incompetent E. coli diets also show lifespan extension, suggesting that the response is independent of a dietary restriction effect. The respiratory incompetent E. coli diet may be imposed well after the worms reach adulthood, including post-reproductive adults, indicating that lifespan extension operates independently of worm development. Curiously, C. elegans fed the Q-less E. coli diet seem to exhibit more pronounced lifespan extension than when fed respiratory incompetent E. coli that are Q-replete. C. elegans ttx-3 mutants, harboring defects in the gene encoding a LIM homeodomain transcription factor, fail to distinguish the Q-less from the Q-replete respiratory defective E. coli. The difference in life span extension mediated by the two respiratory deficient E. coli diets depends on normal food seeking behavior exhibited by N2 C. elegans. The data suggest that the life span extension of N2 worms fed Q-less E. coli diet is caused by a combination of respiratory deficiency of the E. coli and the food seeking behavior of C. elegans. This work was supported by NIA Grant AG19777, and by the Ellison Medical Foundation.