f Adaptation to changes in extracellular tonicity is essential for cell survival. However, severe or chronic hyperosmotic stress induces apoptosis, which involves cytochrome c (Cyt c) release from mitochondria and subsequent apoptosome formation. Here, we show that angiogenin-induced accumulation of tRNA halves (or tiRNAs) is accompanied by increased survival in hyperosmotically stressed mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Treatment of cells with angiogenin inhibits stress-induced formation of the apoptosome and increases the interaction of small RNAs with released Cyt c in a ribonucleoprotein (Cyt c-RNP) complex. Nextgeneration sequencing of RNA isolated from the Cyt c-RNP complex reveals that 20 tiRNAs are highly enriched in the Cyt c-RNP complex. Preferred components of this complex are 5= and 3= tiRNAs of specific isodecoders within a family of isoacceptors. We also demonstrate that Cyt c binds tiRNAs in vitro, and the pool of Cyt c-interacting RNAs binds tighter than individual tiRNAs. Finally, we show that angiogenin treatment of primary cortical neurons exposed to hyperosmotic stress also decreases apoptosis. Our findings reveal a connection between angiogenin-generated tiRNAs and cell survival in response to hyperosmotic stress and suggest a novel cellular complex involving Cyt c and tiRNAs that inhibits apoptosome formation and activity.
Summary Many animal tissues/cells are photosensitive, yet only two types of photoreceptors (opsins and cryptochromes) have been discovered in metazoans. The question arises as to whether unknown types of photoreceptors exist in the animal kingdom. LITE-1, a seven-transmembrane gustatory receptor (GR) homolog, mediates UV light-induced avoidance behavior in C. elegans. However, whether LITE-1 functions as a chemoreceptor or photoreceptor has not been determined. Here, we show that LITE-1 directly absorbs both UVA and UVB light with an extinction coefficient 10–100 times that of opsins and cryptochromes, indicating that LITE-1 is highly efficient in capturing photons. Unlike typical photoreceptor proteins employing a prosthetic chromophore to capture photons, LITE-1 strictly depends on its protein conformation for photon absorption. We further identified two tryptophan residues critical for LITE-1 function. Interestingly, unlike GPCRs, LITE-1 adopts a reversed membrane topology. Thus, LITE-1, a taste receptor homolog, represents a distinct type of photoreceptor in the animal kingdom.
Loss of protein and organelle quality control secondary to reduced autophagy is a hallmark of aging. However, the physiologic and molecular regulation of autophagy in long-lived organisms remains incompletely understood. Here we show that the Kruppel-like family of transcription factors are important regulators of autophagy and healthspan in C. elegans, and also modulate mammalian vascular age-associated phenotypes. Kruppel-like family of transcription factor deficiency attenuates autophagy and lifespan extension across mechanistically distinct longevity nematode models. Conversely, Kruppel-like family of transcription factor overexpression extends nematode lifespan in an autophagy-dependent manner. Furthermore, we show the mammalian vascular factor Kruppel-like family of transcription factor 4 has a conserved role in augmenting autophagy and improving vessel function in aged mice. Kruppel-like family of transcription factor 4 expression also decreases with age in human vascular endothelium. Thus, Kruppel-like family of transcription factors constitute a transcriptional regulatory point for the modulation of autophagy and longevity in C. elegans with conserved effects in the murine vasculature and potential implications for mammalian vascular aging.
Mutation of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the leading genetic cause of Parkinson's Disease (PD), manifested as age-dependent dopaminergic neurodegeneration, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Multiple roles of LRRK2 may contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has also been linked to PD pathogenesis, but its interactive mechanism with PD genetic factors is largely unknown. Here, we used C. elegans, human neuroblastoma cells and murine cortical neurons to determine the role of LRRK2 in maintaining dopaminergic neuron viability. We found that LRRK2 acts to protect neuroblastoma cells and C. elegans dopaminergic neurons from the toxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine and/or human α-synuclein, possibly through the p38 pathway, by supporting upregulation of GRP78, a key cell survival molecule during ER stress. A pathogenic LRRK2 mutant (G2019S), however, caused chronic p38 activation that led to death of murine neurons and age-related dopaminergic-specific neurodegeneration in nematodes. These observations establish a critical functional link between LRRK2 and ER stress.
Background:The P23H opsin mutant causes the blinding human disease, retinitis pigmentosa. Results: Molecular properties of bovine P23H mutant opsin were characterized in both in vitro and a transgenic C. elegans model. Conclusion: Thermally unstable P23H isorhodopsin containing correct disulfide bond can be slowly regenerated in transgenic C. elegans. Significance: This study produced novel information about the disease-causing P23H mutant opsin.
Aging involves progressive loss of cellular function and integrity, presumably caused by accumulated stochastic damage to cells. Alterations in energy metabolism contribute to aging, but how energy metabolism changes with age, how these changes affect aging, and whether they can be modified to modulate aging remain unclear. In locomotory muscle of post-fertile Caenorhabditis elegans, we identified a progressive decrease in cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C), a longevity-associated metabolic enzyme, and a reciprocal increase in glycolytic pyruvate kinase (PK) that were necessary and sufficient to limit lifespan. Decline in PEPCK-C with age also led to loss of cellular function and integrity including muscle activity, and cellular senescence. Genetic and pharmacologic interventions of PEPCK-C, muscle activity, and AMPK signaling demonstrate that declines in PEPCK-C and muscle function with age interacted to limit reproductive life and lifespan via disrupted energy homeostasis. Quantifications of metabolic flux show that reciprocal changes in PEPCK-C and PK with age shunted energy metabolism toward glycolysis, reducing mitochondrial bioenergetics. Last, calorie restriction countered changes in PEPCK-C and PK with age to elicit antiaging effects via TOR inhibition. Thus, a programmed metabolic event involving PEPCK-C and PK is a determinant of aging that can be modified to modulate aging.Aging is characterized by the progressive decline in cellular function and integrity that leads to disease vulnerability and eventually death of organisms (1). The leading proposed cause of decline in cellular function and integrity with age is the accumulation of stochastic damage of molecules and organelles by reactive molecules, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whether ROS are detrimental to organisms and whether ROS limit lifespan, however, are in debate (2).Energy metabolism supplies ATP for cellular function and maintenance. Alterations in energy metabolism are linked to the aging process and aging-associated diseases (3). In model organisms, environmental and genetic factors that change energy metabolism, such as calorie restriction (CR) (4), inhibition of target of rapamycin (TOR) (5), and 5Ј AMP kinase (AMPK) (6) are determinants of longevity. A large body of aging research has been focusing on the signaling of CR, TOR inhibition, and AMPK in regulating longevity. The exact alterations in energy metabolism that occur with age, how these changes impact aging, and whether they can be modified to modulate aging are understudied and remain poorly understood, largely due to the intrinsic complexity of energy metabolism, and the indirect impact of these longevity paradigms on energy metabolism. This impedes the understanding of aging mechanisms and the development of mechanism-based strategies to modulate aging.A key regulation of energy metabolism at the cellular level is the reciprocal changes of PK and PEPCK-C (7). Whether this regulation of cellular energy metabolism contributes to organismal aging is...
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