@article{22267,
  abstract     = {Thermal pollution, whether local or driven by global warming, threatens biodiversity in part through its detrimental effects on reproduction. Non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) are crucial for maintaining germline developmental robustness under heat stress. Remarkably, we uncovered that neuronal sRNAs regulate germ cells’ thermotolerance, affecting both spermatogenic and oogenic germlines in a cell-non-autonomous manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, in RNAi mutants, an oxygen-sensing neural circuit, modulated by neuropeptide signaling, antagonizes germline maintenance, likely reflecting the nematode’s innate association of reduced oxygen levels with food availability and reproductive permissive environments. Finally, we provide evidence that laboratory-domesticated alleles of oxygen-response genes encoding neuropeptide receptor NPR-1 and hexacoordinated globin GLB-5 compromise germline thermotolerance. Hence, our findings raise the possibility that sensory perception, independent of direct environmental change, modulates germline integrity, highlighting a novel mechanism by which neural circuits integrate environmental information to safeguard reproductive fitness in fluctuating environments.},
  author       = {Ewe, Chee Kiang and Achache, Hanna and Schön, Hanna and Kontorovich, Leonid and Teichman, Guy and Weiss, Shir and Mogilevskaya, Anna and Valenski, Myriam and Anava, Sarit and Bardapurkar, Rutwik and Gingold, Hila and Posner, Rachel and Antonova, Olga and De Bono, Mario and Tzur, Yonatan B. and Rechavi, Oded},
  issn         = {1879-0445},
  journal      = {Current Biology},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Neuronal RNAi and oxygen-sensing circuit shape germline resilience to heat stress}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.016},
  year         = {2026},
}

@article{22306,
  abstract     = {The AP3 complex mediates cargo sorting and carrier assembly for the trafficking of transmembrane proteins from endosomes to lysosomes. AP3 is generally believed to localize to clathrin-free, ARF1-positive, elongated carriers in cells, but the architecture of AP3-based coats was unknown. Using in vitro reconstitution and cryo–electron tomography, we demonstrate that AP3:ARF1 spontaneously remodels membranes containing cargo and the phosphoinositide PI(3,5)P
                    <jats:sub>2</jats:sub>
                    into tubular structures coated in spiraling rows of AP3 arches and ARF1 dimers. Targeted point mutations disrupting critical AP3:ARF1 and AP3:AP3 lattice interfaces disrupt AP3 recruitment, carrier formation, and lysosomal cargo trafficking in cells. We propose that AP3 generates tubular carriers on endosomes by organizing ARF1 dimers into elongated membrane-deforming arrays while simultaneously selecting cargo. By demonstrating that AP3:ARF1 can generate carriers without using a clathrin lattice, we explain the clathrin independence of AP3-mediated trafficking.},
  author       = {Kaufman, Jonathan G.G. and Tagiltsev, Grigory and Stalder, Danièle S. and Taylor, Rebecca J. and Sava, Ioana and Guo, Hui and Ciazynska, Katarzyna A. and Zaccai, Nathan R. and Gray, Sally R. and Vallis, Yvonne and Höning, Stefan and Kelly, Bernard T. and Gershlick, David C. and Briggs, John A.G. and Owen, David J.},
  issn         = {2375-2548},
  journal      = {Science Advances},
  number       = {20},
  publisher    = {American Association for the Advancement of Science},
  title        = {{Architecture of clathrin-independent AP3:ARF1-coated carriers}},
  doi          = {10.1126/sciadv.aed1529},
  volume       = {12},
  year         = {2026},
}

@article{20929,
  abstract     = {Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling inhibits FOXO transcription factors to control development, homeostasis, and aging. Here, we use proximity labeling to identify proteins interacting with the C. elegans FOXO DAF-16. We show that in well-fed, unstressed animals harboring active insulin signaling, DAF-16 forms a complex with the PAR-1/MARK serine/threonine kinase, a key regulator of cell polarity. PAR-1 inhibits DAF-16 accumulation and promotes DAF-16 phosphorylation at S249, at a conserved motif that PAR-1/human MARK2 phosphorylates in vitro. DAF-2 insulin-like receptor signaling stimulates DAF-16 S249 phosphorylation, suggesting DAF-2 activates PAR-1. DAF-2 also promotes PAR-1 expression by inhibiting DAF-16. PAR-1 knockdown, or DAF-16 S249A, prolong lifespan, whereas phosphomimetic DAF-16 S249D suppresses the longevity of daf-2 mutants. At low insulin signaling, DAF-16 proximity labeling highlights transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and DNA repair proteins. One interactor, the zinc finger/homeobox protein ZFH-2/ZFHX3, forms a complex with DAF-16 and prolongs lifespan. Our work provides entry points for hypothesis-driven studies of FOXO function and longevity.},
  author       = {Artan, Murat and Schön, Hanna and De Bono, Mario},
  issn         = {2041-1723},
  journal      = {Nature Communications},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Proximity labeling of DAF-16 FOXO highlights aging regulatory proteins}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41467-025-66409-0},
  volume       = {16},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{15016,
  abstract     = {Amphibians, by virtue of their phylogenetic position, provide invaluable insights on nervous system evolution, development, and remodeling. The genetic toolkit for amphibians, however, remains limited. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) are a powerful alternative to transgenesis for labeling and manipulating neurons. Although successful in mammals, AAVs have never been shown to transduce amphibian cells efficiently. We screened AAVs in three amphibian species—the frogs Xenopus laevis and Pelophylax bedriagae and the salamander Pleurodeles waltl—and identified at least two AAV serotypes per species that transduce neurons. In developing amphibians, AAVs labeled groups of neurons generated at the same time during development. In the mature brain, AAVrg retrogradely traced long-range projections. Our study introduces AAVs as a tool for amphibian research, establishes a generalizable workflow for AAV screening in new species, and expands opportunities for cross-species comparisons of nervous system development, function, and evolution.},
  author       = {Jaeger, Eliza C.B. and Vijatovic, David and Deryckere, Astrid and Zorin, Nikol and Nguyen, Akemi L. and Ivanian, Georgiy and Woych, Jamie and Arnold, Rebecca C and Ortega Gurrola, Alonso and Shvartsman, Arik and Barbieri, Francesca and Toma, Florina-Alexandra and Gorbsky, Gary J. and Horb, Marko E. and Cline, Hollis T. and Shay, Timothy F. and Kelley, Darcy B. and Yamaguchi, Ayako and Shein-Idelson, Mark and Tosches, Maria Antonietta and Sweeney, Lora Beatrice Jaeger},
  issn         = {1878-1551},
  journal      = {Developmental Cell},
  number       = {5},
  pages        = {794--812.e6},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Adeno-associated viral tools to trace neural development and connectivity across amphibians}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.devcel.2024.10.025},
  volume       = {60},
  year         = {2025},
}

@phdthesis{20167,
  author       = {Schön, Hanna},
  isbn         = {978-3-99078-061-9},
  issn         = {2663-337X},
  pages        = {171},
  publisher    = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria},
  title        = {{The ER complex SUTU-7/MACO-1 regulates the fate of mRNAs encoding GPCRs}},
  doi          = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20167},
  year         = {2025},
}

@phdthesis{20485,
  author       = {Misova, Michaela},
  isbn         = {978-3-99078-068-8},
  issn         = {2663-337X},
  pages        = {155},
  publisher    = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria},
  title        = {{Dissecting gap junction biology using the C. elegans nervous system}},
  doi          = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20485},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{19498,
  abstract     = {A dynamic interplay between fast synaptic signals and slower neuromodulatory signals controls the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance within neuronal circuits. The mechanisms by which neuropeptide signaling is regulated to maintain E/I balance remain uncertain. We designed a genetic screen to isolate genes involved in the peptidergic maintenance of the E/I balance in the C. elegans motor circuit. This screen identified the C. elegans orthologs of the presynaptic phosphoprotein synapsin (snn-1) and the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulatory subunit PHACTR1 (phac-1). We demonstrate that both phac-1 and snn-1 alter the motor behavior of C. elegans, and genetic interactions suggest that SNN-1 contributes to PP1-PHAC-1 holoenzyme signaling. De novo variants of human PHACTR1, associated with early-onset epilepsies [developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 70 (DEE70)], when expressed in C. elegans resulted in constitutive PP1-PHAC-1 holoenzyme activity. Unregulated PP1-PHAC-1 signaling alters the synapsin and actin cytoskeleton and increases neuropeptide release by cholinergic motor neurons, which secondarily affects the presynaptic vesicle cycle. Together, these results clarify the dominant mechanisms of action of the DEE70 alleles and suggest that altered neuropeptide release may alter E/I balance in DEE70.},
  author       = {Stratigi, Aikaterini and Soler-García, Miguel and Krout, Mia and Shukla, Shikha and De Bono, Mario and Richmond, Janet E. and Laurent, Patrick},
  issn         = {1529-2401},
  journal      = {Journal of Neuroscience},
  number       = {13},
  publisher    = {Society for Neuroscience},
  title        = {{Neuroendocrine control of synaptic transmission by PHAC-1 in C. elegans}},
  doi          = {10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1767-23.2024},
  volume       = {45},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{10826,
  abstract     = {Animals that lose one sensory modality often show augmented responses to other sensory inputs. The mechanisms underpinning this cross-modal plasticity are poorly understood. We probe such mechanisms by performing a forward genetic screen for mutants with enhanced O2 perception in Caenorhabditis elegans. Multiple mutants exhibiting increased O2 responsiveness concomitantly show defects in other sensory responses. One mutant, qui-1, defective in a conserved NACHT/WD40 protein, abolishes pheromone-evoked Ca2+ responses in the ADL pheromone-sensing neurons. At the same time, ADL responsiveness to pre-synaptic input from O2-sensing neurons is heightened in qui-1, and other sensory defective mutants, resulting in enhanced neurosecretion although not increased Ca2+ responses. Expressing qui-1 selectively in ADL rescues both the qui-1 ADL neurosecretory phenotype and enhanced escape from 21% O2. Profiling ADL neurons in qui-1 mutants highlights extensive changes in gene expression, notably of many neuropeptide receptors. We show that elevated ADL expression of the conserved neuropeptide receptor NPR-22 is necessary for enhanced ADL neurosecretion in qui-1 mutants, and is sufficient to confer increased ADL neurosecretion in control animals. Sensory loss can thus confer cross-modal plasticity by changing the peptidergic connectome.},
  author       = {Valperga, Giulio and De Bono, Mario},
  issn         = {2050-084X},
  journal      = {eLife},
  publisher    = {eLife Sciences Publications},
  title        = {{Impairing one sensory modality enhances another by reconfiguring peptidergic signalling in Caenorhabditis elegans}},
  doi          = {10.7554/eLife.68040},
  volume       = {11},
  year         = {2022},
}

@article{10846,
  abstract     = {The Golgi apparatus regulates the process of modification and subcellular localization of macromolecules, including proteins and lipids. Aberrant protein sorting caused by defects in the Golgi leads to various diseases in mammals. However, the role of the Golgi apparatus in organismal longevity remained largely unknown. By employing a quantitative proteomic approach, we demonstrated that MON-2, an evolutionarily conserved Arf-GEF protein implicated in Golgi-to-endosome trafficking, promotes longevity via upregulating macroautophagy/autophagy in C. elegans. Our data using cultured mammalian cells indicate that MON2 translocates from the Golgi to the endosome under starvation conditions, subsequently increasing autophagic flux by binding LGG-1/GABARAPL2. Thus, Golgi-to-endosome trafficking appears to be an evolutionarily conserved process for the upregulation of autophagy, which contributes to organismal longevity.},
  author       = {Artan, Murat and Sohn, Jooyeon and Lee, Cheolju and Park, Seung Yeol and Lee, Seung Jae V.},
  issn         = {1554-8635},
  journal      = {Autophagy},
  number       = {5},
  pages        = {1208--1210},
  publisher    = {Taylor & Francis},
  title        = {{MON-2, a Golgi protein, promotes longevity by upregulating autophagy through mediating inter-organelle communications}},
  doi          = {10.1080/15548627.2022.2039523},
  volume       = {18},
  year         = {2022},
}

@inbook{11456,
  abstract     = {The proteomes of specialized structures, and the interactomes of proteins of interest, provide entry points to elucidate the functions of molecular machines. Here, we review a proximity-labeling strategy that uses the improved E. coli biotin ligase TurboID to characterize C. elegans protein complexes. Although the focus is on C. elegans neurons, the method is applicable regardless of cell type. We describe detailed extraction procedures that solubilize the bulk of C. elegans proteins and highlight the importance of tagging endogenous genes, to ensure physiological expression levels. We review issues associated with non-specific background noise and the importance of appropriate controls. As proof of principle, we review our analysis of the interactome of a presynaptic active zone protein, ELKS-1. Our aim is to provide a detailed protocol for TurboID-based proximity labeling in C. elegans and to highlight its potential and its limitations to characterize protein complexes and subcellular compartments in this animal.},
  author       = {Artan, Murat and de Bono, Mario},
  booktitle    = {Behavioral Neurogenetics},
  editor       = {Yamamoto, Daisuke},
  isbn         = {9781071623206},
  issn         = {1940-6045},
  pages        = {277--294},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Proteomic Analysis of C. Elegans Neurons Using TurboID-Based Proximity Labeling}},
  doi          = {10.1007/978-1-0716-2321-3_15},
  volume       = {181},
  year         = {2022},
}

@article{11637,
  abstract     = {The ability to detect and respond to acute oxygen (O2) shortages is indispensable to aerobic life. The molecular mechanisms and circuits underlying this capacity are poorly understood. Here, we characterize the behavioral responses of feeding Caenorhabditis elegans to approximately 1% O2. Acute hypoxia triggers a bout of turning maneuvers followed by a persistent switch to rapid forward movement as animals seek to avoid and escape hypoxia. While the behavioral responses to 1% O2 closely resemble those evoked by 21% O2, they have distinct molecular and circuit underpinnings. Disrupting phosphodiesterases (PDEs), specific G proteins, or BBSome function inhibits escape from 1% O2 due to increased cGMP signaling. A primary source of cGMP is GCY-28, the ortholog of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor. cGMP activates the protein kinase G EGL-4 and enhances neuroendocrine secretion to inhibit acute responses to 1% O2. Triggering a rise in cGMP optogenetically in multiple neurons, including AIA interneurons, rapidly and reversibly inhibits escape from 1% O2. Ca2+ imaging reveals that a 7% to 1% O2 stimulus evokes a Ca2+ decrease in several neurons. Defects in mitochondrial complex I (MCI) and mitochondrial complex I (MCIII), which lead to persistently high reactive oxygen species (ROS), abrogate acute hypoxia responses. In particular, repressing the expression of isp-1, which encodes the iron sulfur protein of MCIII, inhibits escape from 1% O2 without affecting responses to 21% O2. Both genetic and pharmacological up-regulation of mitochondrial ROS increase cGMP levels, which contribute to the reduced hypoxia responses. Our results implicate ROS and precise regulation of intracellular cGMP in the modulation of acute responses to hypoxia by C. elegans.},
  author       = {Zhao, Lina and Fenk, Lorenz A. and Nilsson, Lars and Amin-Wetzel, Niko Paresh and Ramirez, Nelson and De Bono, Mario and Chen, Changchun},
  issn         = {1545-7885},
  journal      = {PLoS Biology},
  number       = {6},
  publisher    = {Public Library of Science},
  title        = {{ROS and cGMP signaling modulate persistent escape from hypoxia in Caenorhabditis elegans}},
  doi          = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3001684},
  volume       = {20},
  year         = {2022},
}

@article{12082,
  abstract     = {Proximity-dependent protein labeling provides a powerful in vivo strategy to characterize the interactomes of specific proteins. We previously optimized a proximity labeling protocol for Caenorhabditis elegans using the highly active biotin ligase TurboID. A significant constraint on the sensitivity of TurboID is the presence of abundant endogenously biotinylated proteins that take up bandwidth in the mass spectrometer, notably carboxylases that use biotin as a cofactor. In C. elegans, these comprise POD-2/acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, PCCA-1/propionyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, PYC-1/pyruvate carboxylase, and MCCC-1/methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase alpha. Here, we developed ways to remove these carboxylases prior to streptavidin purification and mass spectrometry by engineering their corresponding genes to add a C-terminal His10 tag. This allows us to deplete them from C. elegans lysates using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. To demonstrate the method's efficacy, we use it to expand the interactome map of the presynaptic active zone protein ELKS-1. We identify many known active zone proteins, including UNC-10/RIM, SYD-2/liprin-alpha, SAD-1/BRSK1, CLA-1/CLArinet, C16E9.2/Sentryn, as well as previously uncharacterized potentially synaptic proteins such as the ortholog of human angiomotin, F59C12.3 and the uncharacterized protein R148.3. Our approach provides a quick and inexpensive solution to a common contaminant problem in biotin-dependent proximity labeling. The approach may be applicable to other model organisms and will enable deeper and more complete analysis of interactors for proteins of interest.},
  author       = {Artan, Murat and Hartl, Markus and Chen, Weiqiang and De Bono, Mario},
  issn         = {1083-351X},
  journal      = {Journal of Biological Chemistry},
  number       = {9},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Depletion of endogenously biotinylated carboxylases enhances the sensitivity of TurboID-mediated proximity labeling in Caenorhabditis elegans}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102343},
  volume       = {298},
  year         = {2022},
}

@article{12275,
  abstract     = {N-glycans are molecularly diverse sugars borne by over 70% of proteins transiting the secretory pathway and have been implicated in protein folding, stability, and localization. Mutations in genes important for N-glycosylation result in congenital disorders of glycosylation that are often associated with intellectual disability. Here, we show that structurally distinct N-glycans regulate an extracellular protein complex involved in the patterning of somatosensory dendrites in Caenorhabditis elegans. Specifically, aman-2/Golgi alpha-mannosidase II, a conserved key enzyme in the biosynthesis of specific N-glycans, regulates the activity of the Menorin adhesion complex without obviously affecting the protein stability and localization of its components. AMAN-2 functions cell-autonomously to allow for decoration of the neuronal transmembrane receptor DMA-1/LRR-TM with the correct set of high-mannose/hybrid/paucimannose N-glycans. Moreover, distinct types of N-glycans on specific N-glycosylation sites regulate DMA-1/LRR-TM receptor function, which, together with three other extracellular proteins, forms the Menorin adhesion complex. In summary, specific N-glycan structures regulate dendrite patterning by coordinating the activity of an extracellular adhesion complex, suggesting that the molecular diversity of N-glycans can contribute to developmental specificity in the nervous system.},
  author       = {Rahman, Maisha and Ramirez, Nelson and Diaz‐Balzac, Carlos A and Bülow, Hannes E},
  issn         = {1469-3178},
  journal      = {EMBO Reports},
  keywords     = {Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry},
  number       = {7},
  publisher    = {Embo Press},
  title        = {{Specific N-glycans regulate an extracellular adhesion complex during somatosensory dendrite patterning}},
  doi          = {10.15252/embr.202154163},
  volume       = {23},
  year         = {2022},
}

@misc{13069,
  abstract     = {To survive elevated temperatures, ectotherms adjust the fluidity of membranes by fine-tuning lipid desaturation levels in a process previously described to be cell-autonomous. We have discovered that, in Caenorhabditis elegans, neuronal Heat shock Factor 1 (HSF-1), the conserved master regulator of the heat shock response (HSR)- causes extensive fat remodelling in peripheral tissues. These changes include a decrease in fat desaturase and acid lipase expression in the intestine, and a global shift in the saturation levels of plasma membrane’s phospholipids. The observed remodelling of plasma membrane is in line with ectothermic adaptive responses and gives worms a cumulative advantage to warm temperatures. We have determined that at least six TAX-2/TAX-4 cGMP gated channel expressing sensory neurons and TGF-β/BMP are required for signalling across tissues to modulate fat desaturation. We also find neuronal hsf-1  is not only sufficient but also partially necessary to control the fat remodelling response and for survival at warm temperatures. This is the first study to show that a thermostat-based mechanism can cell non-autonomously coordinate membrane saturation and composition across tissues in a multicellular animal.},
  author       = {Chauve, Laetitia and Hodge, Francesca and Murdoch, Sharlene and Masoudzadeh, Fatemah and Mann, Harry-Jack and Lopez-Clavijo, Andrea and Okkenhaug, Hanneke and West, Greg and Sousa, Bebiana C. and Segonds-Pichon, Anne and Li, Cheryl and Wingett, Steven and Kienberger, Hermine and Kleigrewe, Karin and de Bono, Mario and Wakelam, Michael and Casanueva, Olivia},
  publisher    = {Zenodo},
  title        = {{Neuronal HSF-1 coordinates the propagation of fat desaturation across tissues to enable adaptation to high temperatures in C. elegans}},
  doi          = {10.5281/ZENODO.5519410},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{15272,
  abstract     = {The assembly of neuronal circuits involves the migrations of neurons from their place of birth to their final location in the nervous system, as well as the coordinated growth and patterning of axons and dendrites. In screens for genes required for patterning of the nervous system, we identified the <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> as an important regulator of neural patterning. P5A-ATPases are part of the P-type ATPases, a family of proteins known to serve a conserved function as transporters of ions, lipids and polyamines in unicellular eukaryotes, plants, and humans. While the function of many P-type ATPases is relatively well understood, the function of P5A-ATPases in metazoans remained elusive. We show here, that the <jats:italic>Caenorhabditis elegans</jats:italic> ortholog <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> is required for defined aspects of nervous system development. Specifically, the <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> serves functions in shaping the elaborately sculpted dendritic trees of somatosensory PVD neurons. Moreover, <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> is required for axonal guidance and repulsion at the midline, as well as embryonic and postembryonic neuronal migrations. Interestingly, not all axons at the midline require <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic>, although the axons run in the same fascicles and navigate the same space. Similarly, not all neuronal migrations require <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic>. A CATP-8/P5A-ATPase reporter is localized to the ER in most, if not all, tissues and <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> can function both cell-autonomously and non-autonomously to regulate neuronal development. Genetic analyses establish that <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> can function in multiple pathways, including the Menorin pathway, previously shown to control dendritic patterning in PVD, and Wnt signaling, which functions to control neuronal migrations. Lastly, we show that <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> is required for localizing select transmembrane proteins necessary for dendrite morphogenesis. Collectively, our studies suggest that <jats:italic>catp-8/P5A-ATPase</jats:italic> serves diverse, yet specific, roles in different genetic pathways and may be involved in the regulation or localization of transmembrane and secreted proteins to specific subcellular compartments.},
  author       = {Tang, Leo T. H. and Trivedi, Meera and Freund, Jenna and Salazar, Christopher J. and Rahman, Maisha and Ramirez, Nelson and Lee, Garrett and Wang, Yu and Grant, Barth D. and Bülow, Hannes E.},
  issn         = {1553-7404},
  journal      = {PLOS Genetics},
  keywords     = {Cancer Research, Genetics (clinical), Genetics, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics},
  number       = {7},
  publisher    = {Public Library of Science},
  title        = {{The CATP-8/P5A-type ATPase functions in multiple pathways during neuronal patterning}},
  doi          = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1009475},
  volume       = {17},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{10116,
  abstract     = {The ubiquitous Ca2+ sensor calmodulin (CaM) binds and regulates many proteins, including ion channels, CaM kinases, and calcineurin, according to Ca2+-CaM levels. What regulates neuronal CaM levels, is, however, unclear. CaM-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) are ancient proteins expressed broadly in nervous systems and whose loss confers pleiotropic behavioral defects in flies, mice, and humans. Using Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, we show that CAMTAs control neuronal CaM levels. The behavioral and neuronal Ca2+ signaling defects in mutants lacking camt-1, the sole C. elegans CAMTA, can be rescued by supplementing neuronal CaM. CAMT-1 binds multiple sites in the CaM promoter and deleting these sites phenocopies camt-1. Our data suggest CAMTAs mediate a conserved and general mechanism that controls neuronal CaM levels, thereby regulating Ca2+ signaling, physiology, and behavior.},
  author       = {Vuong-Brender, Thanh and Flynn, Sean and Vallis, Yvonne and De Bono, Mario},
  issn         = {2050-084X},
  journal      = {eLife},
  publisher    = {eLife Sciences Publications},
  title        = {{Neuronal calmodulin levels are controlled by CAMTA transcription factors}},
  doi          = {10.7554/eLife.68238},
  volume       = {10},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{10117,
  abstract     = {Proximity labeling provides a powerful in vivo tool to characterize the proteome of subcellular structures and the interactome of specific proteins. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the most intensely studied organisms in biology, offering many advantages for biochemistry. Using the highly active biotin ligase TurboID, we optimize here a proximity labeling protocol for C. elegans. An advantage of TurboID is that biotin's high affinity for streptavidin means biotin-labeled proteins can be affinity-purified under harsh denaturing conditions. By combining extensive sonication with aggressive denaturation using SDS and urea, we achieved near-complete solubilization of worm proteins. We then used this protocol to characterize the proteomes of the worm gut, muscle, skin, and nervous system. Neurons are among the smallest C. elegans cells. To probe the method's sensitivity, we expressed TurboID exclusively in the two AFD neurons and showed that the protocol could identify known and previously unknown proteins expressed selectively in AFD. The active zones of synapses are composed of a protein matrix that is difficult to solubilize and purify. To test if our protocol could solubilize active zone proteins, we knocked TurboID into the endogenous elks-1 gene, which encodes a presynaptic active zone protein. We identified many known ELKS-1-interacting active zone proteins, as well as previously uncharacterized synaptic proteins. Versatile vectors and the inherent advantages of using C. elegans, including fast growth and the ability to rapidly make and functionally test knock-ins, make proximity labeling a valuable addition to the armory of this model organism.},
  author       = {Artan, Murat and Barratt, Stephen and Flynn, Sean M. and Begum, Farida and Skehel, Mark and Nicolas, Armel and De Bono, Mario},
  issn         = {1083-351X},
  journal      = {Journal of Biological Chemistry},
  number       = {3},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Interactome analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans synapses by TurboID-based proximity labeling}},
  doi          = {10.1016/J.JBC.2021.101094},
  volume       = {297},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{10322,
  abstract     = {To survive elevated temperatures, ectotherms adjust the fluidity of membranes by fine-tuning lipid desaturation levels in a process previously described to be cell autonomous. We have discovered that, in Caenorhabditis elegans, neuronal heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1), the conserved master regulator of the heat shock response (HSR), causes extensive fat remodeling in peripheral tissues. These changes include a decrease in fat desaturase and acid lipase expression in the intestine and a global shift in the saturation levels of plasma membrane’s phospholipids. The observed remodeling of plasma membrane is in line with ectothermic adaptive responses and gives worms a cumulative advantage to warm temperatures. We have determined that at least 6 TAX-2/TAX-4 cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) gated channel expressing sensory neurons, and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) are required for signaling across tissues to modulate fat desaturation. We also find neuronal hsf-1 is not only sufficient but also partially necessary to control the fat remodeling response and for survival at warm temperatures. This is the first study to show that a thermostat-based mechanism can cell nonautonomously coordinate membrane saturation and composition across tissues in a multicellular animal.},
  author       = {Chauve, Laetitia and Hodge, Francesca and Murdoch, Sharlene and Masoudzadeh, Fatemah and Mann, Harry Jack and Lopez-Clavijo, Andrea and Okkenhaug, Hanneke and West, Greg and Sousa, Bebiana C. and Segonds-Pichon, Anne and Li, Cheryl and Wingett, Steven and Kienberger, Hermine and Kleigrewe, Karin and De Bono, Mario and Wakelam, Michael and Casanueva, Olivia},
  issn         = {1545-7885},
  journal      = {PLoS Biology},
  number       = {11},
  publisher    = {Public Library of Science},
  title        = {{Neuronal HSF-1 coordinates the propagation of fat desaturation across tissues to enable adaptation to high temperatures in C. elegans}},
  doi          = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3001431},
  volume       = {19},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{15057,
  abstract     = {Vaccinia virus–related kinase (VRK) is an evolutionarily conserved nuclear protein kinase. VRK-1, the single Caenorhabditis elegans VRK ortholog, functions in cell division and germline proliferation. However, the role of VRK-1 in postmitotic cells and adult life span remains unknown. Here, we show that VRK-1 increases organismal longevity by activating the cellular energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), via direct phosphorylation. We found that overexpression of vrk-1 in the soma of adult C. elegans increased life span and, conversely, inhibition of vrk-1 decreased life span. In addition, vrk-1 was required for longevity conferred by mutations that inhibit C. elegans mitochondrial respiration, which requires AMPK. VRK-1 directly phosphorylated and up-regulated AMPK in both C. elegans and cultured human cells. Thus, our data show that the somatic nuclear kinase, VRK-1, promotes longevity through AMPK activation, and this function appears to be conserved between C. elegans and humans.},
  author       = {Park, Sangsoon and Artan, Murat and Han, Seung Hyun and Park, Hae-Eun H. and Jung, Yoonji and Hwang, Ara B. and Shin, Won Sik and Kim, Kyong-Tai and Lee, Seung-Jae V.},
  issn         = {2375-2548},
  journal      = {Science Advances},
  number       = {27},
  publisher    = {American Association for the Advancement of Science},
  title        = {{VRK-1 extends life span by activation of AMPK via phosphorylation}},
  doi          = {10.1126/sciadv.aaw7824},
  volume       = {6},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{19306,
  author       = {Kazatskaya, Anna and Yuan, Lisa and Amin-Wetzel, Niko Paresh and Philbrook, Alison and de Bono, Mario and Sengupta, Piali},
  issn         = {2578-9430},
  journal      = {microPublication Biology},
  number       = {9},
  publisher    = {Caltech Library},
  title        = {{The URX oxygen-sensing neurons in C. elegans are ciliated}},
  doi          = {10.17912/MICROPUB.BIOLOGY.000303},
  volume       = {2020},
  year         = {2020},
}

