Ramesh N et al. (2018) Neuron "The Long and Short of It: A Dwarf Neurexin Suffices for Synapse Assembly."

Ramesh N, Sigrist SJ

[Neuron, 2018]

Neurexins have been established as a major coordinator of synapse assembly, functioning through interactions with postsynaptic cell adhesion molecules. Kurshan etal. (2018) now show that a C.elegans "dwarf neurexin" lacking its extracellular interaction domains can conduct synapse formation independent of postsynaptic partners.

Cao Z et al. (2020) Bioessays "Are endoplasmic reticulum subdomains shaped by asymmetric distribution of phospholipids? Evidence from a C. elegans model system."

Cao Z, Huang X, Mak HY, Wang X

[Bioessays, 2020]

Physical contact between organelles are widespread, in part to facilitate the shuttling of protein and lipid cargoes for cellular homeostasis. How do protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions shape organelle subdomains that constitute contact sites? The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms extensive contacts with multiple organelles, including lipid droplets (LDs) that are central to cellular fat storage and mobilization. Here, we focus on ER-LD contacts that are highlighted by the conserved protein seipin, which promotes LD biogenesis and expansion. Seipin is enriched in ER tubules that form cage-like structures around a subset of LDs. Such enrichment is strongly dependent on polyunsaturated and cyclopropane fatty acids. Based on these findings, we speculate on molecular events that lead to the formation of seipin-positive peri-LD cages in which protein movement is restricted. We hypothesize that asymmetric distribution of specific phospholipids distinguishes cage membrane tubules from the bulk ER.

Khan LA et al. (2013) Nat Cell Biol "Intracellular lumen extension requires ERM-1-dependent apical membrane expansion and AQP-8-mediated flux."

Sun L, Buechner M, Hall DH, Gobel V, Fleming JT, Abraham N, Khan LA, Zhang H

[Nat Cell Biol, 2013]

Many unicellular tubes such as capillaries form lumens intracellularly, a process that is not well understood. Here we show that the cortical membrane organizer ERM-1 is required to expand the intracellular apical/lumenal membrane and its actin undercoat during single-cell Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal morphogenesis. We characterize AQP-8, identified in an ERM-1-overexpression (ERM-1[++]) suppressor screen, as a canalicular aquaporin that interacts with ERM-1 in lumen extension in a mercury-sensitive manner, implicating water-channel activity. AQP-8 is transiently recruited to the lumen by ERM-1, co-localizing in peri-lumenal cuffs interspaced along expanding canals. An ERM-1[++]-mediated increase in the number of lumen-associated canaliculi is reversed by AQP-8 depletion. We propose that the ERM-1/AQP-8 interaction propels lumen extension by translumenal flux, suggesting a direct morphogenetic effect of water-channel-regulated fluid pressure.

Ding YH et al. (2023) Cell Rep "The nuclear Argonaute HRDE-1 directs target gene re-localization and shuttles to nuage to promote small RNA-mediated inherited silencing."

Ding YH, Ochoa HJ, Shirayama M, Ishidate T, Mello CC

[Cell Rep, 2023]

Argonaute/small RNA pathways and heterochromatin work together to propagate transgenerational gene silencing, but the mechanisms behind their interaction are not well understood. Here, we show that induction of heterochromatin silencing in C. elegans by RNAi or by artificially tethering pathway components to target RNA causes co-localization of target alleles in pachytene nuclei. Tethering the nuclear Argonaute WAGO-9/HRDE-1 induces heterochromatin formation and independently induces small RNA amplification. Consistent with this finding, HRDE-1, while predominantly nuclear, also localizes to peri-nuclear nuage domains, where amplification is thought to occur. Tethering a heterochromatin-silencing factor, NRDE-2, induces heterochromatin formation, which subsequently causes de novo synthesis of HRDE-1 guide RNAs. HRDE-1 then acts to further amplify small RNAs that load on downstream Argonautes. These findings suggest that HRDE-1 plays a dual role, acting upstream to initiate heterochromatin silencing and downstream to stimulate a new cycle of small RNA amplification, thus establishing a self-enforcing mechanism that propagates gene silencing to future generations.

Haspel G et al. (2012) Worm "A connectivity model for the locomotor network of Caenorhabditis elegans."

O'Donovan MJ, Haspel G

[Worm, 2012]

Recently, we described a new method for representing and analyzing the connectivity of a motoneuronal network. We used it to deduce a connectivity model for the neuromuscular network that generates locomotion in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The network regulates muscle contraction and for this reason we used the location or function of body wall muscles to map every element (neuron or muscle cell) in a new framework, namely the peri-motor space. The previously published connectivity data for C. elegans locomotion network are incomplete; in particular, the connectivity of motoneurons in the posterior half of the animal is missing or partial. When we analyzed the connectivity data for motoneurons in the anterior half, we detected repeating patterns which we named iterativity. We analyzed the iterativity of each class of motoneuron and statistically validated that it is higher than expected by chance. We could then extrapolate the iteration into the posterior half. Here we will explain the new terms and elaborate on the process of analysis and the features of the new connectivity model.

Kolotuev I et al. (2013) Nat Cell Biol "A pathway for unicellular tube extension depending on the lymphatic vessel determinant Prox1 and on osmoregulation."

Rodriguez D, Labouesse M, Schwab Y, Kolotuev I, Hyenne V

[Nat Cell Biol, 2013]

The mechanisms regulating the extension of small unicellular tubes remain poorly defined. Here we identify several steps in Caenorhabditis elegans excretory canal growth, and propose a model for lumen extension. Our results suggest that the basal and apical excretory membranes grow sequentially: the former extends first like an axon growth cone; the latter extends next as a result of an osmoregulatory activity triggering peri-apical vesicles (a membrane reservoir) to fuse with the lumen. An apical cytoskeletal web including intermediate filaments and actin crosslinking proteins ensures straight regular lumen growth. Expression of several genes encoding proteins mediating excretory lumen extension, such as the osmoregulatory STE20-like kinase GCK-3 and the intermediate filament IFB-1, is regulated by ceh-26 (here referred to as pros-1), which we found essential for excretory canal formation. Interestingly, PROS-1 is homologous to vertebrate Prox1, a transcription factor controlling lymphatic vessel growth. Our findings have potential evolutionary implications for the origin of fluid-collecting organs, and provide a reference for lymphangiogenesis.

Balasubramaniam M et al. (2024) iScience "Alzheimer's-specific brain amyloid interactome: Neural-network analysis of intra-aggregate crosslinking identifies novel drug targets."

Ayyadevara S, Pahal S, Shmookler Reis RJ, Mainali N, Balasubramaniam M, Ganne A

[iScience, 2024]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by peri-neuronal amyloid plaque and intra-neuronal neurofibrillary tangles. These aggregates are identified by the immunodetection of "seed" proteins (A&#x3b2;_1-42 and hyperphosphorylated tau, respectively), but include many other proteins incorporated nonrandomly. Using click-chemistry intra-aggregate crosslinking, we previously modeled amyloid "contactomes" in SY5Y-APP_Sw neuroblastoma cells, revealing that aspirin impedes aggregate growth and complexity. By an analogous strategy, we now construct amyloid-specific aggregate interactomes of AD and age-matched-control&#xa0;hippocampi. Comparing these interactomes reveals AD-specific interactions, from which neural-network (NN) analyses predict proteins with the highest impact on pathogenic aggregate formation and/or stability. RNAi knockdowns of implicated proteins, in <i>C.&#xa0;elegans</i> and human-cell-culture models of AD, validated those predictions. Gene-Ontology meta-analysis of AD-enriched influential proteins highlighted the involvement of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments in AD-specific aggregation. This approach derives dynamic consensus models of aggregate growth and architecture, implicating highly influential proteins as new targets to disrupt amyloid accrual in the AD brain.

Follit JA et al. (2009) Cell Motil Cytoskeleton "Characterization of mouse IFT complex B."

Keady BT, Xu F, Pazour GJ, Follit JA

[Cell Motil Cytoskeleton, 2009]

The primary cilium plays a key role in the development of mammals and in the maintenance of health. Primary cilia are assembled and maintained by the process of intraflagellar transport (IFT). In this work, we characterize mouse IFT complex B by identifying all of the mammalian orthologues of complex B and B-associated proteins previously identified in Chlamydomonas and Caenorhabditis and also identify a new component (IFT25/Hspb11) of complex B by database analysis. We tagged each of these proteins with the FLAG epitope and show that all except IFT172 and IFT20 localize to cilia and the peri-basal body or centrosomal region at the base of cilia. All of the proteins except IFT172 immunoprecipitate IFT88 indicating that they are co-assembled into a complex. IFT20 is the only complex B protein that localizes to the Golgi apparatus. However, overexpression of IFT54/Traf3ip1, the mouse orthologue of Dyf-11/Elipsa, displaces IFT20 from the Golgi apparatus. IFT54 does not localize to the Golgi complex nor does it interact with GMAP210, which is the protein that anchors IFT20 to the Golgi apparatus. This suggests that IFT54s effect on IFT20 is a dominant negative phenotype caused by its overexpression. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Bayer EA et al. (2021) Genetics "Insulin signaling and osmotic stress response regulate arousal and developmental progression of C. elegans at hatching."

Bayer EA, Birnbaum S, Schlesinger E, He Z, Schneider JR, Wightman B, Liberatore KM

[Genetics, 2021]

The progression of animal development from embryonic to juvenile life depends on the coordination of organism-wide responses with environmental conditions. We found that two transcription factors that function in interneuron differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans, fax-1 and unc-42, are required for arousal and progression from embryogenesis to larval life by potentiating insulin signaling. The combination of mutations in either transcription factor and a mutation in daf-2 insulin receptor results in a novel peri-hatching arrest phenotype; embryos are fully-developed but inactive, often remaining trapped within the eggshell, and fail to initiate pharyngeal pumping. This pathway is opposed by an osmotic sensory response pathway that promotes developmental arrest and a sleep state at the end of embryogenesis in response to elevated salt concentration. The quiescent state induced by loss of insulin signaling or by osmotic stress can be reversed by mutations in genes that are required for sleep. Therefore, countervailing signals regulate late embryonic arousal and developmental progression to larval life, mechanistically linking the two responses. Our findings demonstrate a role for insulin signaling in an arousal circuit, consistent with evidence that insulin-related regulation may function in control of sleep states in many animals. The opposing quiescent arrest state may serve as an adaptive response to the osmotic threat from high salinity environments.

Daiber T et al. (2021) Genetics "Conserved and divergent aspects of Robo receptor signaling and regulation between Drosophila Robo1 and C. elegans SAX-3."

Bashaw GJ, Daiber T, Evans TA, VanderZwan-Butler CJ

[Genetics, 2021]

The evolutionarily conserved Roundabout (Robo) family of axon guidance receptors control midline crossing of axons in response to the midline repellant ligand Slit in bilaterian animals including insects, nematodes, and vertebrates. Despite this strong evolutionary conservation, it is unclear whether the signaling mechanism(s) downstream of Robo receptors are similarly conserved. To directly compare midline repulsive signaling in Robo family members from different species, here we use a transgenic approach to express the Robo family receptor SAX-3 from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in neurons of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We examine SAX-3's ability to repel Drosophila axons from the Slit-expressing midline in gain of function assays, and test SAX-3's ability to substitute for Drosophila Robo1 during fly embryonic development in genetic rescue experiments. We show that C. elegans SAX-3 is properly translated and localized to neuronal axons when expressed in the Drosophila embryonic CNS, and that SAX-3 can signal midline repulsion in Drosophila embryonic neurons, although not as efficiently as Drosophila Robo1. Using a series of Robo1/SAX-3 chimeras, we show that the SAX-3 cytoplasmic domain can signal midline repulsion to the same extent as Robo1 when combined with the Robo1 ectodomain. We show that SAX-3 is not subject to endosomal sorting by the negative regulator Commissureless (Comm) in Drosophila neurons in vivo, and that peri-membrane and ectodomain sequences are both required for Comm sorting of Drosophila Robo1.