@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}, number = {14}, pages = {3566--3579.e5}, publisher = {Cell Press}, title = {{Neuronal RNAi and oxygen-sensing circuit shape germline resilience to heat stress}}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.06.016}, volume = {36}, 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{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}, } @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}, } @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{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{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}, } @article{7804, abstract = {Besides pro-inflammatory roles, the ancient cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) modulates neural circuit function. We investigate IL-17 signaling in neurons, and the extent it can alter organismal phenotypes. We combine immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to biochemically characterize endogenous signaling complexes that function downstream of IL-17 receptors in C. elegans neurons. We identify the paracaspase MALT-1 as a critical output of the pathway. MALT1 mediates signaling from many immune receptors in mammals, but was not previously implicated in IL-17 signaling or nervous system function. C. elegans MALT-1 forms a complex with homologs of Act1 and IRAK and appears to function both as a scaffold and a protease. MALT-1 is expressed broadly in the C. elegans nervous system, and neuronal IL-17–MALT-1 signaling regulates multiple phenotypes, including escape behavior, associative learning, immunity and longevity. Our data suggest MALT1 has an ancient role modulating neural circuit function downstream of IL-17 to remodel physiology and behavior.}, author = {Flynn, Sean M. and Chen, Changchun and Artan, Murat and Barratt, Stephen and Crisp, Alastair and Nelson, Geoffrey M. and Peak-Chew, Sew Yeu and Begum, Farida and Skehel, Mark and De Bono, Mario}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{MALT-1 mediates IL-17 neural signaling to regulate C. elegans behavior, immunity and longevity}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-15872-y}, volume = {11}, year = {2020}, } @article{7545, abstract = {Neuronal activity often leads to alterations in gene expression and cellular architecture. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, owing to its compact translucent nervous system, is a powerful system in which to study conserved aspects of the development and plasticity of neuronal morphology. Here we focus on one pair of sensory neurons, termed URX, which the worm uses to sense and avoid high levels of environmental oxygen. Previous studies have reported that the URX neuron pair has variable branched endings at its dendritic sensory tip. By controlling oxygen levels and analyzing mutants, we found that these microtubule-rich branched endings grow over time as a consequence of neuronal activity in adulthood. We also find that the growth of these branches correlates with an increase in cellular sensitivity to particular ranges of oxygen that is observable in the behavior of older worms. Given the strengths of C. elegans as a model organism, URX may serve as a potent system for uncovering genes and mechanisms involved in activity-dependent morphological changes in neurons and possible adaptive changes in the aging nervous system.}, author = {Cohn, Jesse A. and Cebul, Elizabeth R. and Valperga, Giulio and Brose, Lotti and de Bono, Mario and Heiman, Maxwell G. and Pierce, Jonathan T.}, issn = {0012-1606}, journal = {Developmental Biology}, number = {1}, pages = {66--74}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Long-term activity drives dendritic branch elaboration of a C. elegans sensory neuron}}, doi = {10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.01.005}, volume = {461}, year = {2020}, } @article{7546, abstract = {The extent to which behavior is shaped by experience varies between individuals. Genetic differences contribute to this variation, but the neural mechanisms are not understood. Here, we dissect natural variation in the behavioral flexibility of two Caenorhabditis elegans wild strains. In one strain, a memory of exposure to 21% O2 suppresses CO2-evoked locomotory arousal; in the other, CO2 evokes arousal regardless of previous O2 experience. We map that variation to a polymorphic dendritic scaffold protein, ARCP-1, expressed in sensory neurons. ARCP-1 binds the Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase PDE-1 and co-localizes PDE-1 with molecular sensors for CO2 at dendritic ends. Reducing ARCP-1 or PDE-1 activity promotes CO2 escape by altering neuropeptide expression in the BAG CO2 sensors. Variation in ARCP-1 alters behavioral plasticity in multiple paradigms. Our findings are reminiscent of genetic accommodation, an evolutionary process by which phenotypic flexibility in response to environmental variation is reset by genetic change.}, author = {Beets, Isabel and Zhang, Gaotian and Fenk, Lorenz A. and Chen, Changchun and Nelson, Geoffrey M. and Félix, Marie-Anne and de Bono, Mario}, issn = {0896-6273}, journal = {Neuron}, number = {1}, pages = {106--121.e10}, publisher = {Cell Press}, title = {{Natural variation in a dendritic scaffold protein remodels experience-dependent plasticity by altering neuropeptide expression}}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2019.10.001}, volume = {105}, year = {2020}, } @article{7547, abstract = {The BH3-only family of proteins is key for initiating apoptosis in a variety of contexts, and may also contribute to non-apoptotic cellular processes. Historically, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has provided a powerful system for studying and identifying conserved regulators of BH3-only proteins. In C. elegans, the BH3-only protein egl-1 is expressed during development to cell-autonomously trigger most developmental cell deaths. Here we provide evidence that egl-1 is also transcribed after development in the sensory neuron pair URX without inducing apoptosis. We used genetic screening and epistasis analysis to determine that its transcription is regulated in URX by neuronal activity and/or in parallel by orthologs of Protein Kinase G and the Salt-Inducible Kinase family. Because several BH3-only family proteins are also expressed in the adult nervous system of mammals, we suggest that studying egl-1 expression in URX may shed light on mechanisms that regulate conserved family members in higher organisms.}, author = {Cohn, Jesse and Dwivedi, Vivek and Valperga, Giulio and Zarate, Nicole and de Bono, Mario and Horvitz, H. Robert and Pierce, Jonathan T.}, issn = {2160-1836}, journal = {G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics}, number = {11}, pages = {3703--3714}, publisher = {Genetics Society of America}, title = {{Activity-dependent regulation of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene egl-1 in a living neuron pair in Caenorhabditis elegans}}, doi = {10.1534/g3.119.400654}, volume = {9}, year = {2019}, } @article{7548, abstract = {Although the aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into amyloid fibrils is a well-established hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, the complex mechanisms linking this process to neurodegeneration are still incompletely understood. The nematode worm C. elegans is a valuable model organism through which to study these mechanisms because of its simple nervous system and its relatively short lifespan. Standard Aβ-based C. elegans models of Alzheimer’s disease are designed to study the toxic effects of the overexpression of Aβ in the muscle or nervous systems. However, the wide variety of effects associated with the tissue-level overexpression of Aβ makes it difficult to single out and study specific cellular mechanisms related to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, to better understand how to investigate the early events affecting neuronal signalling, we created a C. elegans model expressing Aβ42, the 42-residue form of Aβ, from a single-copy gene insertion in just one pair of glutamatergic sensory neurons, the BAG neurons. In behavioural assays, we found that the Aβ42-expressing animals displayed a subtle modulation of the response to CO2, compared to controls. Ca2+ imaging revealed that the BAG neurons in young Aβ42-expressing nematodes were activated more strongly than in control animals, and that neuronal activation remained intact until old age. Taken together, our results suggest that Aβ42-expression in this very subtle model of AD is sufficient to modulate the behavioural response but not strong enough to generate significant neurotoxicity, suggesting that slightly more aggressive perturbations will enable effectively studies of the links between the modulation of a physiological response and its associated neurotoxicity.}, author = {Sinnige, Tessa and Ciryam, Prashanth and Casford, Samuel and Dobson, Christopher M. and de Bono, Mario and Vendruscolo, Michele}, issn = {1932-6203}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, number = {5}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {{Expression of the amyloid-β peptide in a single pair of C. elegans sensory neurons modulates the associated behavioural response}}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0217746}, volume = {14}, year = {2019}, } @article{6109, abstract = {Neuropeptides are ubiquitous modulators of behavior and physiology. They are packaged in specialized secretory organelles called dense core vesicles (DCVs) that are released upon neural stimulation. Unlike synaptic vesicles, which can be recycled and refilled close to release sites, DCVs must be replenished by de novo synthesis in the cell body. Here, we dissect DCV cell biology in vivo in a Caenorhabditis elegans sensory neuron whose tonic activity we can control using a natural stimulus. We express fluorescently tagged neuropeptides in the neuron and define parameters that describe their subcellular distribution. We measure these parameters at high and low neural activity in 187 mutants defective in proteins implicated in membrane traffic, neuroendocrine secretion, and neuronal or synaptic activity. Using unsupervised hierarchical clustering methods, we analyze these data and identify 62 groups of genes with similar mutant phenotypes. We explore the function of a subset of these groups. We recapitulate many previous findings, validating our paradigm. We uncover a large battery of proteins involved in recycling DCV membrane proteins, something hitherto poorly explored. We show that the unfolded protein response promotes DCV production, which may contribute to intertissue communication of stress. We also find evidence that different mechanisms of priming and exocytosis may operate at high and low neural activity. Our work provides a defined framework to study DCV biology at different neural activity levels.}, author = {Laurent, Patrick and Ch’ng, QueeLim and Jospin, Maëlle and Chen, Changchun and Lorenzo, Ramiro and de Bono, Mario}, issn = {0027-8424}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, number = {29}, pages = {E6890--E6899}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, title = {{Genetic dissection of neuropeptide cell biology at high and low activity in a defined sensory neuron}}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1714610115}, volume = {115}, year = {2018}, } @article{6111, abstract = {Neurons develop elaborate morphologies that provide a model for understanding cellular architecture. By studying C. elegans sensory dendrites, we previously identified genes that act to promote the extension of ciliated sensory dendrites during embryogenesis. Interestingly, the nonciliated dendrite of the oxygen-sensing neuron URX is not affected by these genes, suggesting it develops through a distinct mechanism. Here, we use a visual forward genetic screen to identify mutants that affect URX dendrite morphogenesis. We find that disruption of the MAP kinase MAPK-15 or the βH-spectrin SMA-1 causes a phenotype opposite to what we had seen before: dendrites extend normally during embryogenesis but begin to overgrow as the animals reach adulthood, ultimately extending up to 150% of their normal length. SMA-1 is broadly expressed and acts non-cell-autonomously, while MAPK-15 is expressed in many sensory neurons including URX and acts cell-autonomously. MAPK-15 acts at the time of overgrowth, localizes at the dendrite ending, and requires its kinase activity, suggesting it acts locally in time and space to constrain dendrite growth. Finally, we find that the oxygen-sensing guanylate cyclase GCY-35, which normally localizes at the dendrite ending, is localized throughout the overgrown region, and that overgrowth can be suppressed by overexpressing GCY-35 or by genetically mimicking elevated cGMP signaling. These results suggest that overgrowth may correspond to expansion of a sensory compartment at the dendrite ending, reminiscent of the remodeling of sensory cilia or dendritic spines. Thus, in contrast to established pathways that promote dendrite growth during early development, our results reveal a distinct mechanism that constrains dendrite growth throughout the life of the animal, possibly by controlling the size of a sensory compartment at the dendrite ending.}, author = {McLachlan, Ian G. and Beets, Isabel and de Bono, Mario and Heiman, Maxwell G.}, issn = {1553-7404}, journal = {PLOS Genetics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {{A neuronal MAP kinase constrains growth of a Caenorhabditis elegans sensory dendrite throughout the life of the organism}}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1007435}, volume = {14}, year = {2018}, } @article{6113, author = {Oda, Shigekazu and Toyoshima, Yu and de Bono, Mario}, issn = {0027-8424}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, number = {23}, pages = {E4658--E4665}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, title = {{Modulation of sensory information processing by a neuroglobin in Caenorhabditis elegans}}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1614596114}, volume = {114}, year = {2017}, }