Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Muhan Hu, Ekta Tiwary, Jeevan K. Prasain, Michael Miller, Rosa Serra
Summary: The C. elegans TGFss pathway regulates various pathways to modulate PG metabolism and sperm guidance. DAF-3 likely functions in the nervous system and possibly the germline to affect sperm guidance. Results suggest that reduced PGF levels in daf-1 mutants contribute to sperm guidance defects.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jie Tang, Yi-Cheng Ma, Yuan-Li Chen, Rui-Qiu Yang, Heng-Chen Liu, Xin Wang, Baosen Ni, Cheng-Gang Zou, Ke-Qin Zhang
Summary: The maintenance of proteostasis is crucial for cellular and organism healthspan, yet the impact of proteostasis collapse on reproductive span is not fully understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, excess accumulation of vitellogenins, major components in yolk proteins, is vital for embryonic development and occurs during the aging process. Our study reveals that vitellogenin accumulation leads to reproductive cessation by impairing lysosomal activity in the intestine and germline. Lysosomal function in the germline is necessary for reproductive span by maintaining oocyte quality. Autophagy and sperm depletion are not involved in vitellogenin accumulation-induced reproductive aging. These findings provide insights into the influence of proteome imbalance on reproductive aging and suggest that improving lysosomal function could be an effective intervention for maintaining reproductive health in mammals.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baolin Yang, Zhen Yang, Lei Cheng, Yang Li, Tong Zhou, Yuyan Han, Hua Du, An Xu
Summary: This study found that exposure to high SMFs had adverse effects on the sperms and offspring of C. elegans, including changes in sperm size, function, and reduced reproductive capacity in male worms. The lifespan of the offspring from exposed male mutants and unexposed female mutants was also decreased in a time-dependent manner.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Janice K. Jeschke, Cristina Biagioni, Tobias Schierling, Isabel Viola Wagner, Frederik Boergel, Dirk Schepmann, Andreas Schuering, Alexandra E. Kulle, Paul Martin Holterhus, Michael von Wolff, Bernhard Wuensch, Verena Nordhoff, Timo Struenker, Christoph Brenker
Summary: The study reveals that reproductive steroids and prostaglandins can rapidly increase intracellular calcium concentration in sperm through CatSper channels, competing for the same binding site to activate the channel, while zinc ions can suppress their action. These findings reinforce the role of CatSper as a chemosensor, enabling sperm to probe the hormonal microenvironment at different stages during their journey.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lingyan Sun, Yanping Zhou, Chunyan Wang, Yaguang Nie, An Xu, Lijun Wu
Summary: This study investigated the toxic effects of RDX on Caenorhabditis elegans and its future generations, as well as the signaling pathways involved. Exposure to RDX led to increased reactive oxygen species production, germ cell apoptosis, and decreased egg laying. Mutations in specific genes and RNA sequencing revealed the apoptosis signaling pathway and the metabolism of RDX in the nematodes. The transgenerational effects on reproductive toxicity were associated with specific gene expressions. These findings provide a basis for further understanding the ecological risks of energetic compounds in the environment.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Rudra Prasanna Banerjee, Martin Srayko
Summary: In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, two genetic suppressors, gskl-1 and gskl-2, were identified to interact with memi-1(sb41) and play a role in regulating sperm development and fertilization through modulating the major sperm protein (MSP).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiechen Yin, Zihai Jian, Guangcan Zhu, Xiaojin Yu, Yuepu Pu, Lihong Yin, Dayong Wang, Yuanqing Bu, Ran Liu
Summary: PFOS and PFOA exposure was found to reduce brood size, germ cell number, spermatid size, and motility, as well as increase malformation rate of spermatids. PFOS showed higher levels of damage than PFOA in germ cells at lower exposure levels, potentially disrupting various stages of spermatogenesis. Loss-of-function studies revealed that spe-10 gene may play a specific role in PFOS- or PFOA-induced reproductive toxicity, providing valuable data for risk assessment of these pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaehoon Kim, Hyemin Min, Sunhee Ko, Yhong-Hee Shim
Summary: The GIPC proteins, gipc-1 and gipc-2, are crucial for proper pseudopod extension of sperm in Caenorhabditis elegans, leading to normal sperm motility during fertilization. Their deficiency results in defective sperm activation and abnormal segregation of major sperm protein (MSP), ultimately causing infertility in double mutants.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Katherine A. Maniates, Benjamin S. Olson, Allison L. Abbott
Summary: Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, typically by RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, and translation initiation factors, is crucial for normal germ cell function. Specific miRNAs, like mir-44 and mir-45, play a significant role in promoting sperm fate specification, acting as important posttranscriptional regulators of the germline sex determination pathway.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunjiang Yu, Xin Hua, Haibo Chen, Yue Yang, Yao Dang, Mingdeng Xiang
Summary: The study found that TCBPA could impact the reproductive system of C. elegans, leading to decreased fertility. Experimental results showed that TCBPA caused a reduction in germline cells and induced apoptosis, possibly through a DNA damage-inducing apoptotic pathway.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiechen Yin, Xiang Hong, Jia Wang, Weixi Li, Yingchi Shi, Dayong Wang, Ran Liu
Summary: This study investigated the multi/trans-generational reproductive toxicity of the widely used herbicide Atrazine (ATR) using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that ATR exposure during the parental generation led to decreased fecundity and delayed gonadal development, and continuous exposure caused increased reproductive toxicity in subsequent generations. The study also found that reproductive toxicity, but not developmental toxicity, can be passed on to multiple generations, with the second generation showing the most notable changes. Gene expression analysis and mutant experiments revealed the involvement of DNA methylation and histone H3 methylation in the transgenerational effects of ATR.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiling Liu, Qiqi Wu, Yanru Zhong, Zongzhe He, Zhen Wang, Rui Li, Minghua Wang
Summary: Fosthiazate, a potent nematicide, has been used extensively for controlling root-knot nematodes and other herbivorous nematodes. However, its toxicity to non-target nematodes is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the toxicity and mechanisms of fosthiazate in Caenorhabditis elegans, a non-target nematode species. Our results showed that fosthiazate exposure above 0.01 mg/L caused growth inhibition, locomotion impairment, and reproductive damage in the nematodes. Reactive oxygen species production and lipofuscin accumulation were increased in nematodes exposed to 1 mg/L fosthiazate. The activity of acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited by 0.1 mg/L fosthiazate treatment. Furthermore, exposure to 10 mg/L fosthiazate altered the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, reproduction, and nerve function. The cyp-35a family gene was found to be responsible for the metabolism of fosthiazate in C. elegans, with the cyp-35a5 subtype being the most sensitive. These findings suggest that oxidative stress, reproductive and neurological disorders play crucial roles in the toxicity of fosthiazate in C. elegans and may have implications for soil nematodes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Salman Sohrabi, Vanessa Cota, Coleen T. Murphy
Summary: The potential of high-throughput assays in a small space makes C. elegans advantageous, but worm assays are labor-intensive. We developed a miniature lab-on-a-chip device called CeLab, which enables automation of various worm assays and simultaneous analysis of lifespan, reproductive span, and progeny production. CeLab overcomes the limitations of traditional plate assays and reveals the effects of feeding with heat-killed bacteria on lifespan and reproductive span. It also allows the tracking of individual life history traits, uncovering the reproductive behavior of sgk-1 mutants.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carina C. Kern, Shivangi Srivastava, Marina Ezcurra, Kuei Ching Hsiung, Nancy Hui, StJohn Townsend, Dominik Maczik, Bruce Zhang, Victoria Tse, Viktoras Konstantellos, Juerg Bahler, David Gems
Summary: The post-reproductive C. elegans exhibits destructive somatic biomass repurposing to produce yolk as food for the offspring, resembling the suicidal reproductive effort typically seen in semelparous organisms. A comparison between Caenorhabditis and Pristionchus species revealed that yolk venting and pathological changes occur only in hermaphrodites, which also have shorter lifespans. Germline removal in hermaphrodites suppresses senescent pathology and significantly increases lifespan, suggesting the presence of reproductive death in C. elegans that is suppressed by germline ablation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongdan Zhang, Tongtong Liu, Xuelong Song, Qinyu Zhou, Jielin Tang, Qianyu Sun, Yuepu Pu, Lihong Yin, Juan Zhang
Summary: Exposure to tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) may reduce reproductive ability, increase germ cell apoptosis and DNA damage, and elevate oxidative stress levels in Caenorhabditis elegans.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael A. Miller
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2015)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hieu D. Hoang, Michael A. Miller
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine McKnight, Hieu D. Hoang, Jeevan K. Prasain, Naoko Brown, Jack Vibbert, Kyle A. Hollister, Ray Moore, Justin R. Ragains, Jeff Reese, Michael A. Miller
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sung Min Han, Hajer El Oussini, Jelena Scekic-Zahirovic, Jack Vibbert, Pauline Cottee, Jeevan K. Prasain, Hugo J. Bellen, Luc Dupuis, Michael A. Miller
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeevan K. Prasain, Hieu D. Hoang, Johnathan W. Edmonds, Michael A. Miller
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2013)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jessica Schultz, Se-Jin Lee, Tim Cole, Hieu D. Hoang, Jack Vibbert, Pauline A. Cottee, Michael A. Miller, Sung Min Han
Article
Developmental Biology
Pauline A. Cottee, Tim Cole, Jessica Schultz, Hieu D. Hoang, Jack Vibbert, Sung Min Han, Michael A. Miller
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeevan K. Prasain, Landon Wilson, Hieu D. Hoang, Ray Moore, Michael A. Miller