Zarate Potes, A. et al. (2015) International Worm Meeting "Genetic analysis of the role of the GATA transcription factor ELT-2 in the strain-specific interaction with the natural pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis ."

Zarate Potes, A., Yang, W., Schulenburg, H., Dierking, K., Schalkowski, R.

[International Worm Meeting, 2015]

Because invertebrates lack adaptive immunity, they have been believed to rely exclusively on broad-spectrum responses mounted by the innate immune system to fight pathogen threats. However, the ability of some invertebrate taxa to mount pathogen-specific immune responses has been observed. Here we explore the genetic basis of a highly specific response of C. elegans towards different strains of its bacterial pathogen B. thuringiensis (BT). Based on a transcriptome sequencing approach, the GATA transcription factor gene elt-2 was identified to be upregulated upon exposure to the nematocidal BT strain MYBT18247, but down-regulated when exposed to a second nematocidal strain MYBT18679. Using genetic analysis, we show that surprisingly, elt-2 RNAi knockdown worms become highly resistant to MYBT18247 infection, whereas their susceptibility to MYBT18679 is increased compared to wild type worms. As downstream targets of the insulin-like, the p38-MAPK, and to a lesser extent the JNK-MAPK pathways show opposite expression upon exposure to the two different BT strains as well, we additionally studied a possible interaction between elt-2 and components of these signaling cascades in the immune defense against BT. Our results suggest that the p38-MAPK pathway either acts in parallel to or direclty interacts with elt-2 in response to the pathogen MYBT18679, but is not required for the resistance to MYBT18247. The insulin-like pathway is involved in the response to both MYBT18679 and MyBT18247, likely acting downstrem of elt-2. The JNK-MAPK pathway is required for the general response to BT. Overall our findings highlight strong differences in the physiological response of C. elegans to two strains of the same pathogenic bacterial species, strongly indicating that highly specific immune responses are possible within an invertebrate immune system. .

Rand JB et al. (2000) East Coast Worm Meeting "UNC-13 in the C. elegans Nervous System"

Kohn RE, Rand JB, McManus JR, Moulder GL, Duke A, Barstead RJ, Duerr JS

[East Coast Worm Meeting, 2000]

C. elegans unc-13 and its homologues in vertebrates and Drosophila are involved in neurotransmitter release. UNC-13 has several regions homologous to PKC regulatory domains; these domains confer it with calcium, phorbol ester and phospholipid binding properties (Maruyama and Brenner, PNAS 88, 1991). A 5.9kb transcript coding for a 200kDa protein was initially identified (now designated L-R for left and right regions). We have identified two additional types of transcripts. One transcript includes a 1kb novel exon (L-M-R, M for middle region) and another transcript lacks the 5' region included in the other two transcripts (M-R). All three transcripts are identical at the 3' end (R). C. elegans with mutations in the 5' end of the gene (L) alter two types of transcripts (L-R and L-M-R) resulting in an uncoordinated coily phenotype and resistance to the anti-cholinesterease, aldicarb. A 2.7kb deletion near the 3' end (R) (identified by Bob Barstead using PCR analysis) affects all unc-13 transcripts and results in a lethal phenotype. Antibodies recognizing the N-terminal region of UNC-13 (L) label synapses, but not synaptic vesicles, of most or all neurons; many mutations in L and R remove staining with this antibody. Supported by grants from the NIH and OCAST.

Abergel, Z. et al. (2017) International Worm Meeting "Adaptation of the nematode C. elegans to hypoxia and reoxygenation stress reveals an unexpected function of the neuroglobin GLB-5 in innate immunity."

Zuckerman, B., Zelmanovich, V., Abergel, Z., Abergel, R., Gross, E., Smith, Y., Romero, L., Livshits, L.

[International Worm Meeting, 2017]

Deprivation of oxygen (hypoxia) followed by reoxygenation (H/R stress) is a major component in several pathological conditions such as vascular inflammation, myocardial ischemia, and stroke. However how animals adapt and recover from H/R stress remains an open question. Previous studies showed that the neuroglobin GLB-5(Haw) is essential for the fast recovery of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) from H/R stress. Here, we characterize the changes in neuronal gene expression during the adaptation of worms to hypoxia and recovery from H/R stress. Our analysis shows that innate immunity genes are differentially expressed during both adaptation to hypoxia and recovery from reoxygenation stress. Moreover, we reveal that the prolyl hydroxylase EGL-9, a known regulator of both adaptation to hypoxia and the innate immune response, inhibits the fast recovery from H/R stress through its activity in the O2-sensing neurons AQR, PQR, and URX. Finally, we show that GLB-5(Haw) acts in AQR, PQR, and URX to increase the tolerance of worms to bacterial pathogenesis. Together, our studies suggest that innate immunity and recovery from H/R stress are regulated by overlapping signaling pathways.

A V Bicknell et al. (2002) European Worm Meeting "The C. elegans F47F2.1 gene encodes a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) catalytic subunit"

A V Bicknell, M J Fisher, M Tabish, R A Clegg, H H Rees

[European Worm Meeting, 2002]

PK-A mediates all known effects of cyclic AMP on cellular activity in eukaryotes. The holoenzyme is an inactive tetramer of two regulatory (R) subunits and two catalytic (C) subunits. Following binding of cyclic AMP to the R subunits, dissociation of active C-subunits occurs. In mammals, , and isoforms of C-subunit, encoded by different genes, have been identified.

Angelo RG et al. (1997) International C. elegans Meeting "DISCOVERY OF A POTENTIAL ANCHOR/SCAFFOLD PROTEIN FOR C. ELEGANS PROTEIN KINASE A (PKA)"

Angelo RG, Rubin CS

[International C. elegans Meeting, 1997]

C. elegans PKA is composed exclusively of catalytic and regulatory (R) subunits encoded by the kin-1 and kin-2 genes. Since C. elegans lacks other PKA isoforms, this enzyme must disseminate signals carried by cAMP to all cell compartments. Approximately 60% of total R (PKA) is in the particulate fraction of disrupted C. elegans, indicating that protein/protein interactions may diversify PKA signaling by anchoring the kinase at specific intracellular locations. Co-localization of PKA with upstream activators and/or downstream effectors can create target sites for cAMP action. To understand the mechanism of PKA localization in C. elegans, a cDNA expression library was screened with recombinant radiolabeled-R (0.5 nM) to obtain high-affinity binding proteins. A cDNA encoding a novel, 143 kDa A kinase anchor protein (AKAP1) was retrieved and sequenced. The corresponding gene (rap-1) is located in LGII and contains 17 exons. AKAP1 is an acidic protein (pI=4.4) that is unrelated to previously characterized proteins. C. elegans R is avidly bound by both soluble and immobilized fragments of AKAP1. Competition binding studies indicate that C. elegans R is a preferred ligand, whereas mammalian RII and RI isoforms are only weakly sequestered. Scatchard analysis yielded a Kd value of ~10 nM for the R/AKAP1 complex. Deletion mutagenesis, coupled with protein expression in E. coli and in vitro assays, demonstrated that residues 235 to 255 govern high-affinity binding of R by AKAP1. A hydrophobic surface generated by amino acids with branched aliphatic side chains may be a key determinant of R binding activity. Site directed mutagenesis will pinpoint essential residues involved in PKA binding. Studies aimed at identifying the AKAP1 binding site on R are also in progress. High-affinity anti-AKAP1 IgGs are being used to determine (a) whether AKAP1 expression is developmentally-regulated and cell- specific and (b) the relationship between R (PKA) and AKAP1 in vivo.

Hicks, Tara et al. (2021) International Worm Meeting "R-loop-induced irreparable DNA damage in C. elegans meiosis"

Hicks, Tara, Koury, Emily, Williams, Cameron, Smolikove, Sarit

[International Worm Meeting, 2021]

Most DNA-RNA hybrids are formed naturally during transcription and are composed of a nascent RNA strand hybridized to DNA as part of R-loops. The accumulation of these structures in S-phase can result in replication-transcription conflict, an outcome which can lead to the formation of double strand breaks (DSBs). While R-loops' role in mitotically dividing cells has been characterized, there are only a handful of studies describing the effect of R-loops in meiosis and these studies present a complex picture of the outcome of R-loop formation on germ cells. Here we show that DSBs formed by R-loops trigger an altered cellular response to DNA damage. RNase H is an enzyme responsible for degradation of the RNA strand in DNA-RNA hybrids and plays an essential role in preventing this outcome and its deleterious consequences. Using null mutants for the two Caenorhabditis elegans genes encoding for RNase H1 and RNase H2 (hereby rnh mutants), our studies explore the effects of replication stress-induced DNA-RNA hybrid accumulation on meiosis. As expected, rnh mutants exhibit an increase in R-loop formation. Consequently, an elevation of DSBs in germline nuclei is evidenced by the accumulation of RAD-51 foci. Despite no repair mechanism abrogation, rnh mutants fail to repair all DSBs generated, leading to a fragmentation of chromosomes in diakinesis oocytes. By combining our double mutant with a spo-11 null mutation, we show that although replicative defects are the main contributor to the phenotype, R-loops formed in meiosis are likely contributors as well. We present evidence that while rnh mutants accumulate DNA-RNA hybrids and subsequent DSBs may signal a degree of checkpoint activation in mitosis, some damaged nuclei prevail past the checkpoint, enter into meiosis, and remain unrepaired throughout. Moreover, we find no evidence of an increase in apoptosis, which indicates that DNA damage generated by R-loops remain undetected by an apoptotic checkpoint. This data altogether points to DSBs initiated by R-loops representing an irreparable type of DNA damage that evades cellular machineries designed for damage recognition.

Birsoy B et al. (2010) Biology of the C. elegans Male, Madison, WI "Novel Left-Right Asymmetries of Male C.elegans"

Rothman J H, Choi S, Birsoy B, Downes J C, Bloss T A

[Biology of the C. elegans Male, Madison, WI, 2010]

While the mechanism that breaks left-right (L-R) anatomical asymmetry has been described in C. elegans, we have found that at least one additional mechanism must exist to generate L-R differences in the deployment of alternative cell death pathways in the male tail, male mating behavior and patterning of the male gonad. Upon recognizing a hermaphrodite, males initiate backward locomotion and continuously scan along the hermaphrodite's body. When their tails reach either the head or tail of the hermaphrodite, males turn to maintain contact and then continue backward locomotion on the opposite side of the hermaphrodite. We found that this turning behavior shows a distinct right-handed bias: when individual males were allowed to mate with lin-2(e1309) vulvaless hermaphrodites, >70% of the turns when made over the hermaphrodites' body (away from the agar surface) and >55% of turns when made under the hermaphrodites' body (toward the agar surface) are right-handed. To determine whether this bias in turning direction correlated with L-R asymmetry in the male mating structure, which results from stochastic EGL-1-dependent loss of sensory rays, we examined the turning bias in egl-1(n1084n3082) mutants. Wild-type males lack rays more frequently on the right and egl-1 mutant males have no ray loss but still display the right-hand turning bias. To assess whether this L-R behavioral bias is dependent on anatomical asymmetry, we analyzed gpa-16(it143) mutants in which the L-R asymmetry of the internal organs is reversed as a result of the reversal in the early embryonic symmetry break. Males with reversed anatomical asymmetry showed a virtually identical right hand bias in turning, demonstrating that an asymmetry-determining system that is independent of the previously described L-R symmetry breaking event must control this behavior. During the characterization of the gonad reversals of males, we also observed a previously unreported temperature sensitive reversal of L-R asymmetry of the male gonads in N2 (Bristol) and a Hawaiian wild isolate. We will describe our recent findings on these novel L-R asymmetries of the C.elegans male anatomy and behavior.

L C Bowen et al. (2002) European Worm Meeting "The C. elegans cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) catalytic subunit gene (kin-1)"

L C Bowen, M Tabish, M J Fisher, H H Rees, R A Clegg

[European Worm Meeting, 2002]

PK-A is one of the major multifunctional ser/thr protein kinases found in eukaryotic organisms. The holoenzyme is comprised of two catalytic (C) and two regulatory (R) subunits. Both R and C subunits occur in multiple isoforms encoded by distinct genes. In many organisms, the genes that encode the C subunits also show alternative splicing behaviour. This generates an even broader array of C subunit heterogeneity. The diversity of C subunit polypeptides may enable this protein kinase to selectively target substrate polypeptides for phosphorylation.

Martyna W Pastok et al. (2007) International Worm Meeting "Studies on the C. elegans Protein Kinase A (PK-A) Catalytic and Regulatory Subunit Genes."

Huw H Rees, Martyna W Pastok, Michael J Fisher, Caroline Dart, Patrica A Murray

[International Worm Meeting, 2007]

The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A; PK-A) holoenzyme consists of two catalytic (C) subunits bound to two regulatory (R) subunits, forming an inactive heterotetramer (R2C2). Binding of cyclic AMP to the R subunits results in the dissociation of catalytically active monomeric C subunits. These C subunits catalyse the protein phosphorylation events underlying the diverse range of cellular processes triggered by alterations in cyclic AMP concentration. In C. elegans, C and R subunits are encoded by the kin-1 and kin-2 genes respectively. We have undertaken both bioinformatic and molecular studies on the structure and expression of these genes, in C. elegans. We have also undertaken comparative bioinformatic studies on orthologus genes, and gene products, in C. briggsae and C. remanei. These studies have highlighted the potential significance of alternative splicing processes, as a means of generating multiple isoforms of both the C and R subunits in C. elegans. The possible significance of such multiple isoforms is discussed in the context of the subcellular distribution of PK-A and in relation to the targeting of specific phosphorylation events, in responses to changes in intracellular cyclic AMP concentration.

Birsoy, Bilge et al. (2009) International Worm Meeting "Right Way to Have Sex."

Bloss, Tim, Birsoy, Bilge, Rothman, Joel H., Downes, Joanna C., Choi, Shin Sik

[International Worm Meeting, 2009]

While the mechanism that breaks left-right (L-R) anatomical asymmetry (handedness) has been described in C. elegans, we have found that at least one additional mechanism must exist to establish other handedness cues that generates L-R differences in the deployment of alternative cell death pathways (see abstract from our lab by Choi et al.). To assess whether such a system might affect a behavior in the worm, we investigated whether male mating behavior exhibits L-R handedness. Upon recognizing a hermaphrodite, males initiate backward locomotion and continuously scan along the hermaphrodite''s body. When their tails reach either the head or tail of the hermaphrodite, males turn to maintain contact and then continue backward locomotion on the opposite side of the hermaphrodite. We found that this turning behavior shows a distinct right-handed bias: when individual males were allowed to mate with lin-2(e1309) vulvaless hermaphrodites, >70% of the turns when made over the hermaphrodites'' body (away from the agar surface) and >55% of turns when made under the hermaphrodites'' body (toward the agar surface) are right-handed. To determine whether this bias in turning direction correlated with L-R asymmetry in the male mating structure, which results from stochastic EGL-1-dependent loss of sensory rays (Choi et al. abstract), we examined the turning bias in egl-1(n1084n3082) mutants. We were surprised to find that, although wild-type males lack rays more frequently on the right, the right-hand turning bias is actually increased in the egl-1 mutant, in which no rays are lost and therefore rays are always symmetrically arranged. Thus, the intrinsic turning bias is even more apparent in males with symmetric mating structures. To assess whether this L-R behavioral bias is dependent on anatomical handedness, we analyzed gpa-16(it143) mutants in which the L-R asymmetry of the internal organs is reversed as a result of the reversal in the early embryonic symmetry break. Males with reversed anatomical asymmetry showed a virtually identical right hand bias in turning, demonstrating that a handedness-determining system that is independent of the previously described L-R symmetry breaking event must control this behavior. These findings raise the possibility that, analogous to brain laterality in humans, functionally L-R asymmetry in the C. elegans motor nervous system may be independent of anatomical handedness.