Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrick J. Hu
Summary: The study in C. elegans model showed that a conserved insulin-like signaling pathway plays an important role in shaping the phylogenetic composition of the gut microbiome.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erin J. Cram
Summary: Cells release extracellular vesicles containing proteins, lipids, and RNAs to communicate with other cells and remove damaged components. In C. elegans, neuronal cells release large extracellular vesicles called exophers to clear damaged organelles and protein aggregates. Researchers have now shown that embryos in the uterus can stimulate body wall muscle cells to release exophers loaded with yolk, which are then absorbed by oocytes to nourish the next generation of embryos.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Linda M. Pallotto, Clayton M. Dilks, Ye-Jean Park, Ryan B. Smit, Brian T. Lu, Chandrasekhar Gopalakrishnan, John S. Gilleard, Erik C. Andersen, Paul E. Mains
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between C. elegans β-tubulin genes and the response to the benzimidazole derivative albendazole. The results showed that tbb-2 mutants were hypersensitive to albendazole, while tbb-1 mutants were less sensitive. In addition, mutations in the ben-1 coding region were found to cause albendazole resistance.
Article
Biology
Xinwei Yu, Matthew S. Creamer, Francesco Randi, Anuj K. Sharma, Scott W. Linderman, Andrew M. Leifer
Summary: A method called fDNC, based on the transformer network architecture, is proposed for automated tracking and identifying neurons in C. elegans. This method predicts neural correspondence quickly without requiring straightening or transforming the animal into a canonical coordinate system, making it suitable for future real-time applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruxandra Barbulescu, Goncalo Mestre, Arlindo L. Oliveira, Luis Miguel Silveira
Summary: Given the complexity of the human nervous system, studying simpler organisms like C. elegans can provide insight into brain activity. This paper investigates the use of data-driven models to simulate the neural system of C. elegans using different neural network architectures, and compares their properties, accuracy, and complexity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Khaled Youssef, Daphne Archonta, Terrance J. Kubiseski, Anurag Tandon, Pouya Rezai
Summary: This paper reveals the novel effect of electric field on adult C. elegans egg-laying behavior, showing that the electric egg-laying rate is significantly influenced by EF strength, direction, and exposure duration, as well as worm aging. The involvement and sensitivity of specific neurons and muscles to the EF are demonstrated, and the assay can be used for cellular screening and mapping of the neural basis of electrosensation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James J. Doyle, Claudia Maios, Celine Vrancx, Sarah Duhaime, Babykumari Chitramuthu, Hugh P. J. Bennett, Andrew Bateman, J. Alex Parker
Summary: The article discusses the link between GRN mutations and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) discovered in 2006 and highlights the need for advancing genetic and small-molecule therapeutics for GRN-related FTD. Research using the nematode model, Caenorhabditis elegans, shows that loss of nematode GRN ortholog results in behavioral and molecular defects, and implicates the sphingolipid metabolic pathway in regulating these defects. High-throughput drug screening using nematodes has identified two small molecules with potential therapeutic applications against GRN/pgrn-1 deficiency, offering avenues for mechanistic and therapeutic research into GRN-related neurodegeneration.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Erik Rosenhahn, Thomas J. O'Brien, Maha S. Zaki, Ina Sorge, Dagmar Wieczorek, Kevin Rostasy, Antonio Vitobello, Sophie Nambot, Fowzan S. Alkuraya, Mais O. Hashem, Amal Alhashem, Brahim Tabarki, Abdullah S. Alamri, Ayat H. Al Safar, Dalal K. Bubshait, Nada F. Alahmady, Joseph G. Gleeson, Mohamed S. Abdel-Hamid, Nicole Lesko, Sofia Ygberg, Sandrina P. Correia, Anna Wredenberg, Shahryar Alavi, Seyed M. Seyedhassani, Mahya Ebrahimi Nasab, Haytham Hussien, Tarek E. Omar, Ines Harzallah, Renaud Touraine, Homa Tajsharghi, Heba Morsy, Henry Houlden, Mohammad Shahrooei, Maryam Ghavideldarestani, Ghada M. H. Abdel-Salam, Annalaura Torella, Mariateresa Zanobio, Gaetano Terrone, Nicola Brunetti-Pierri, Abdolmajid Omrani, Julia Hentschel, Johannes R. Lemke, Heinrich Sticht, Rami Abou Jamra, Andre E. X. Brown, Reza Maroofian, Konrad Platzer
Summary: This study identifies bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in the PPFIBP1 gene as a cause of severe neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by early-onset epilepsy, microcephaly, and periventricular calcifications.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Hui Chong, Chuan Tan, Siyu Fang, Xichen Chen, Qi Tao, Xiaohui Yuan, Jinzhi Li, Cunhui Zhai, Chengxin Fei, Di Yang, Hongying Fan, Hongxia Shao, Aijian Qin, Guoxiu Wang, Zhonghua Shi, Ting Z'hang, Hang Yao, Hualing Li, Chengyin Wang
Summary: Two novel BODIPY-bearing complexes with pyridine and pyrimidine motifs showed stronger interactions with DNA compared to cisplatin. They exhibited improved anti-chemoresistance capabilities and significantly decreased lifespan and body length in a cisplatin-resistant model. Upregulation of certain genes related to chemoresistance was observed upon exposure to cisplatin, but not to the synthesized Pt(II) complexes.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy A. Crombie, Paul Battlay, Robyn E. Tanny, Kathryn S. Evans, Claire M. Buchanan, Daniel E. Cook, Clayton M. Dilks, Loraina A. Stinson, Stefan Zdraljevic, Gaotian Zhang, Nicole M. Roberto, Daehan Lee, Michael Ailion, Kathryn A. Hodgins, Erik C. Andersen
Summary: In this study, the authors investigated the natural ecology and genetic diversity of Caenorhabditis elegans on the Hawaiian Islands. They found that C. elegans predominantly inhabit moderately moist native forests at high elevations with cool temperatures. Furthermore, they identified seven genetically distinct groups and discovered regions associated with local adaptation. These findings contribute to our understanding of genetic diversity on remote volcanic archipelagos.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fanwei Meng, Guofang Ma, Jiahe Qiu, Zhendong Fu, Jiaqing Yan, Lingping Wang
Summary: This study investigated the nanozyme co-assembled from sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate and Cu ions, which showed excellent laccase-like activity in oxidizing phenol-containing substrates. The high doses of Cu-Ls NZ increased reactive oxygen species production, decreased nematode locomotor activity, and inhibited larval growth.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aurelie Guisnet, Malosree Maitra, Sreeparna Pradhan, Michael Hendricks
Summary: The study highlights how laboratory conditions and environmental enrichment can impact gene expression patterns and behaviors of model organisms. By developing a protocol to create three-dimensional habitable scaffolds for trans-generational culture of C. elegans, researchers can control the microbial environment and observe a clear behavioral bias towards the enriched environment in the nematodes. The initial assessment reveals complex nictation behavior, including group towering and jumping, in dauer populations maintained in the scaffolds.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nicholas Osborne, Charles Leahy, Yoon-Kwang Lee, Paula Rote, Byoung-Joon Song, James P. Hardwick
Summary: Fatty acids play a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and influencing various cellular processes. The CYP4 Omega hydroxylase gene family metabolizes different types of fatty acids. The CYP4V2 gene is important in the progression of metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sarah Clark, Hanbin Jeong, April Goehring, Yunsik Kang, Eric Gouaux
Summary: This study presents a detailed protocol for isolating membrane protein complexes from transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. The genetically modified worms are grown abundantly using standard laboratory equipment, and purification conditions are optimized on a small scale using fluorescence-detection size-exclusion chromatography. The optimized conditions are then applied to a large-scale preparation, allowing for the purification of sufficient quantities of target proteins for structural, biochemical, and biophysical studies. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by successfully isolating membrane protein complexes from transgenic C. elegans.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siqi Jiang, Na Deng, Bisheng Zheng, Tong Li, Rui Hai Liu
Summary: Rhodiola extract was found to significantly extend the lifespan of C. elegans and enhance its stress resistance by regulating gene expression and promoting protein translocation.
