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PMID: 18680713 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Neural and molecular dissection of a C. elegans sensory circuit that regulates fat and feeding.

Cell metabolism ·Vol. 8 ·No. 2 ·2008-08-00 ·Pages 118-31

Greer ER, Pérez CL, Van Gilst MR, Lee BH, Ashrafi K

Abstract

A major challenge in understanding energy balance is deciphering the neural and molecular circuits that govern behavioral, physiological, and metabolic responses of animals to fluctuating environmental conditions. The neurally expressed TGF-beta ligand DAF-7 functions as a gauge of environmental conditions to modulate energy balance in C. elegans. We show that daf-7 signaling regulates fat metabolism and feeding behavior through a compact neural circuit that allows for integration of multiple inputs and the flexibility for differential regulation of outputs. In daf-7 mutants, perception of depleting food resources causes fat accumulation despite reduced feeding rate. This fat accumulation is mediated, in part, through neural metabotropic glutamate signaling and upregulation of peripheral endogenous biosynthetic pathways that direct energetic resources into fat reservoirs. Thus, neural perception of adverse environmental conditions can promote fat accumulation without a concomitant increase in feeding rate.

MeSH Terms
Adaptation, Physiological/physiology Adipose Tissue/metabolism Animals Appetite Regulation/physiology Caenorhabditis elegans/cytology,metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics,metabolism Energy Metabolism/physiology Environment Feeding Behavior/physiology Lipid Metabolism/physiology Models, Animal Mutation/genetics Nervous System/cytology,metabolism Neural Pathways/cytology,metabolism Neurons, Afferent/cytology,metabolism Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/metabolism Starvation/metabolism Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics,metabolism
Chemicals
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins DAF-7 protein, C elegans Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate Transforming Growth Factor beta
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Greer Elisabeth R
Department of Physiology, 600 16th Street, Mission Bay Campus Box 2240, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA.
Pérez Carissa L
Van Gilst Marc R
Lee Brian H
Ashrafi Kaveh
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Article Info
Journal
Cell metabolism
Abbr.
Cell Metab
ISSN
1932-7420
DOI
10.1016/j.cmet.2008.06.005
Published
2008-08-00
Pages
118-31
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101233170
PMCID
PMC2556218
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDDK NIH HHS · R01 DK070149 · United States
NIDDK NIH HHS · R01 DK070149-04 · United States
Corrections
CommentIn
PMID: 18680709
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2008.06.005 PMC Full Text View journal details
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