The Ras-ERK/MAP (Mitogen-Activated Protein) kinase signaling pathway governs many cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, cell fate, homeostasis, and survival in all eukaryotes. Constitutive activation of the Ras-ERK/MAPK signaling pathway often leads to promotion of abnormal cell growth and tumorigenesis. Although the regulation of the Ras-ERK/MAPK signaling pathway by post-translational modification has been well elucidated, post-transcriptional regulations of this pathway are beginning to emerge in invertebrates and this work is extended to humans. In this review, we describe the conserved regulation of Ras-ERK/MAPK signaling by RNA-binding proteins (PUF, KH-domain, HuR, and LARP) and microRNAs (let-7 family miRNAs) and important implications for human diseases including cancers.

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How a committed cell can be reverted to an undifferentiated state is a central question in stem cell biology. This process, called dedifferentiation, is likely to be important for replacing stem cells as they age or get damaged. Tremendous progress has been made in understanding this fundamental process, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the aberrant activation of Ras-ERK MAPK signaling promotes cellular dedifferentiation in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. To activate signaling, we removed two negative regulators, the PUF-8 RNA-binding protein and LIP-1 dual specificity phosphatase. The removal of both of these two regulators caused secondary spermatocytes to dedifferentiate and begin mitotic divisions. Interestingly, reduction of Ras-ERK MAPK signaling, either by mutation or chemical inhibition, blocked the initiation of dedifferentiation. By RNAi screening, we identified RSKN-1/P90(RSK) as a downstream effector of MPK-1/ERK that is critical for dedifferentiation: rskn-1 RNAi suppressed spermatocyte dedifferentiation and instead induced meiotic divisions. These regulators are broadly conserved, suggesting that similar molecular circuitry may control cellular dedifferentiation in other organisms, including humans.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during normal metabolic processes under aerobic conditions. Since ROS production initiates harmful radical chain reactions on cellular macromolecules, including lipid peroxidation, DNA mutation, and protein denaturation, it has been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, ischemia-reperfusion and aging. Over the past several decades, antioxidants have received explosive attention regarding their protective potential against these deleterious reactions. Accordingly, many analytical methodologies have been developed for the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of compounds or complex biological samples. Herein, we introduce a simple and convenient method to detect in vivo intracellular ROS levels photometrically in Caenorhabditis elegans using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA), a cell permeant tracer.

Veronica peregrina has a wide range of types of constituents with various pharmacological properties. Here in this study, we isolated protocatechuic acid (PCA) from V. peregrina and examined PCAs effects on the lifespan and stress tolerance using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. We found that lifespan of wild-type worms was significantly lengthened in the presence of PCA in a dose dependent manner. PCA also elevated tolerance of worms against osmotic, heat shock, and oxidative stress. We also demonstrated antioxidant capacity of PCA by checking intracellular reactive oxygen species level and antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. We further investigated several factors including pharyngeal pumping rate and progeny production that might influence prolonged lifespan and enhanced stress tolerance by PCA. Interestingly, both factors were significantly reduced after PCA exposure, indicating PCA exerts longevity activity by shifting food intake and reproduction at least in part. In addition, PCA-treated aged worms showed increased body movement compared to untreated controls suggesting PCA could enhance healthspan as well as lifespan.

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