1
|
Ripoll-Sánchez L, Watteyne J, Sun H, Fernandez R, Taylor SR, Weinreb A, Bentley BL, Hammarlund M, Miller DM, Hobert O, Beets I, Vértes PE, Schafer WR. The neuropeptidergic connectome of C. elegans. Neuron 2023; 111:3570-3589.e5. [PMID: 37935195 PMCID: PMC7615469 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Efforts are ongoing to map synaptic wiring diagrams, or connectomes, to understand the neural basis of brain function. However, chemical synapses represent only one type of functionally important neuronal connection; in particular, extrasynaptic, "wireless" signaling by neuropeptides is widespread and plays essential roles in all nervous systems. By integrating single-cell anatomical and gene-expression datasets with biochemical analysis of receptor-ligand interactions, we have generated a draft connectome of neuropeptide signaling in the C. elegans nervous system. This network is characterized by high connection density, extended signaling cascades, autocrine foci, and a decentralized topology, with a large, highly interconnected core containing three constituent communities sharing similar patterns of input connectivity. Intriguingly, several key network hubs are little-studied neurons that appear specialized for peptidergic neuromodulation. We anticipate that the C. elegans neuropeptidergic connectome will serve as a prototype to understand how networks of neuromodulatory signaling are organized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Ripoll-Sánchez
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jan Watteyne
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - HaoSheng Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert Fernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seth R Taylor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexis Weinreb
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Barry L Bentley
- Cardiff School of Technologies, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marc Hammarlund
- Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David M Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences/HHMI, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabel Beets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - William R Schafer
- Neurobiology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK; Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Busack I, Bringmann H. A sleep-active neuron can promote survival while sleep behavior is disturbed. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010665. [PMID: 36917595 PMCID: PMC10038310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is controlled by neurons that induce behavioral quiescence and physiological restoration. It is not known, however, how sleep neurons link sleep behavior and survival. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the sleep-active RIS neuron induces sleep behavior and is required for survival of starvation and wounding. Sleep-active neurons such as RIS might hypothetically promote survival primarily by causing sleep behavior and associated conservation of energy. Alternatively, RIS might provide a survival benefit that does not depend on behavioral sleep. To probe these hypotheses, we tested how activity of the sleep-active RIS neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans controls sleep behavior and survival during larval starvation. To manipulate the activity of RIS, we expressed constitutively active potassium channel (twk-18gf and egl-23gf) or sodium channel (unc-58gf) mutant alleles in this neuron. Low levels of unc-58gf expression in RIS increased RIS calcium transients and sleep. High levels of unc-58gf expression in RIS elevated baseline calcium activity and inhibited calcium activation transients, thus locking RIS activity at a high but constant level. This manipulation caused a nearly complete loss of sleep behavior but increased survival. Long-term optogenetic activation also caused constantly elevated RIS activity and a small trend towards increased survival. Disturbing sleep by lethal blue-light stimulation also overactivated RIS, which again increased survival. FLP-11 neuropeptides were important for both, induction of sleep behavior and starvation survival, suggesting that FLP-11 might have divergent roles downstream of RIS. These results indicate that promotion of sleep behavior and survival are separable functions of RIS. These two functions may normally be coupled but can be uncoupled during conditions of strong RIS activation or when sleep behavior is impaired. Through this uncoupling, RIS can provide survival benefits under conditions when behavioral sleep is disturbed. Promoting survival in the face of impaired sleep might be a general function of sleep neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inka Busack
- BIOTEC, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Davis K, Mitchell C, Weissenfels O, Bai J, Raizen DM, Ailion M, Topalidou I. G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK-2) controls exploration through neuropeptide signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010613. [PMID: 36652499 PMCID: PMC9886303 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals alter their behavior in manners that depend on environmental conditions as well as their developmental and metabolic states. For example, C. elegans is quiescent during larval molts or during conditions of satiety. By contrast, worms enter an exploration state when removed from food. Sensory perception influences movement quiescence (defined as a lack of body movement), as well as the expression of additional locomotor states in C. elegans that are associated with increased or reduced locomotion activity, such as roaming (exploration behavior) and dwelling (local search). Here we find that movement quiescence is enhanced, and exploration behavior is reduced in G protein-coupled receptor kinase grk-2 mutant animals. grk-2 was previously shown to act in chemosensation, locomotion, and egg-laying behaviors. Using neuron-specific rescuing experiments, we show that GRK-2 acts in multiple ciliated chemosensory neurons to control exploration behavior. grk-2 acts in opposite ways from the cGMP-dependent protein kinase gene egl-4 to control movement quiescence and exploration behavior. Analysis of mutants with defects in ciliated sensory neurons indicates that grk-2 and the cilium-structure mutants act in the same pathway to control exploration behavior. We find that GRK-2 controls exploration behavior in an opposite manner from the neuropeptide receptor NPR-1 and the neuropeptides FLP-1 and FLP-18. Finally, we show that secretion of the FLP-1 neuropeptide is negatively regulated by GRK-2 and that overexpression of FLP-1 reduces exploration behavior. These results define neurons and molecular pathways that modulate movement quiescence and exploration behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Davis
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Christo Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Olivia Weissenfels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jihong Bai
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - David M. Raizen
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael Ailion
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Irini Topalidou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hughes S, van Dop M, Kolsters N, van de Klashorst D, Pogosova A, Rijs AM. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson's Disease Model to Assess Disease Progression and Therapy Efficiency. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:512. [PMID: 35631338 PMCID: PMC9143865 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Parkinson's Disease (PD) being the second most common neurodegenerative disease, treatment options are limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and screen new therapeutic compounds that slow or reverse the pathology of PD. Unfortunately, few new therapeutics are being produced, partly due to the low throughput and/or poor predictability of the currently used model organisms and in vivo screening methods. Our objective was to develop a simple and affordable platform for drug screening utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The effect of Levodopa, the "Gold standard" of PD treatment, was explored in nematodes expressing the disease-causing α-synuclein protein. We focused on two key hallmarks of PD: plaque formation and mobility. Exposure to Levodopa ameliorated the mobility defect in C. elegans, similar to people living with PD who take the drug. Further, long-term Levodopa exposure was not detrimental to lifespan. This C. elegans-based method was used to screen a selection of small-molecule drugs for an impact on α-synuclein aggregation and mobility, identifying several promising compounds worthy of further investigation, most notably Ambroxol. The simple methodology means it can be adopted in many labs to pre-screen candidate compounds for a positive impact on disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
- A-LIFE Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maritza van Dop
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Nikki Kolsters
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - David van de Klashorst
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anastasia Pogosova
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, AIMMS Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sudevan S, Muto K, Higashitani N, Hashizume T, Higashibata A, Ellwood RA, Deane CS, Rahman M, Vanapalli SA, Etheridge T, Szewczyk NJ, Higashitani A. Loss of physical contact in space alters the dopamine system in C. elegans. iScience 2022; 25:103762. [PMID: 35141505 PMCID: PMC8810405 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Sudevan
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK
- Musculoskeletal Conditions, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Derby, UK
| | - Kasumi Muto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
| | - Nahoko Higashitani
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
| | - Toko Hashizume
- Advanced Engineering Services Co. Ltd, Tsukuba Mitsui Building7F,1-6-1 Takezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0032, Japan
| | - Akira Higashibata
- Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 2-1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8505, Japan
| | - Rebecca A. Ellwood
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK
- Musculoskeletal Conditions, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Derby, UK
| | - Colleen S. Deane
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, StockerRoad, Exeter, UK
| | - Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Siva A. Vanapalli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Timothy Etheridge
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
- Corresponding author
| | - Nathaniel J. Szewczyk
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Royal Derby Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK
- Musculoskeletal Conditions, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Derby, UK
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Atsushi Higashitani
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|