Investigating Connections between Metabolism, Longevity, and Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

An overview of C. elegans as an experimental organism for studying energy balance is presented. Some of the unresolved questions that complicate the interpretation of lipid measurements from C. elegans are highlighted. We review studies that show both lipid synthesis and breakdown pathways are activated and needed for the longevity of hermaphrodites that lack their germ lines. These findings illustrate the heterogeneity of triglyceride rich lipid particles in C. elegans and reveal specific lipid signals that promote longevity. Finally, we provide a brief overview of feeding behavioral responses of C. elegans to varying nutritional conditions and highlight an unanticipated metabolic pathway that allows for the incorporation of experience in feeding behavior.

Differential modification of the C. elegans proteome in response to acute and chronic gamma radiation: Link with reproduction decline

“…However, lipid content was analyzed in our study but no significant decrease has been observed before 6.8 Gy [29], that let us suppose that the excess of yolk protein is not the consequence of lipid catabolism but rather the trigger [30]. Yolk protein excess can also be the result of cellular fight against oxidative stress that has been shown to be partly orchestrated by SKN-1 [31], also involved in lipid homeostasis and yolk accumulation [32] in opposite ways [30]. In germline stem cell ablated C.…”

“…elegans, this phenomenon has already been seen [32] and the role of yolk proteins in response to chronic exposure has been suspected [29]. The link between reproduction, lipids and even lifespan has been evidenced through numerous studies [33] but still requires investigations.…”

Age‐dependent changes and biomarkers of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…A similar observation has been reported showing that overall levels of fatty acid metabolic proteins decrease (Copes et al, ). Because altering fat metabolism has huge impacts on aging and lifespan (Lee et al, ; Lemieux & Ashrafi, ), the proper maintenance of fat metabolism in old age will be beneficial for longevity.…”

WormJam: A consensusC. elegansMetabolic Reconstruction and Metabolomics Community and Workshop Series

“…In recent years, metabolism is increasingly recognised as an important contributor to C. elegans healthspan and lifespan, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. 2,3 Most of the historical efforts to detect changes in metabolism have been based on molecular tools including gene expression and/or reporter strains. Despite its importance for a large number of research applications, efforts to reconstruct the global map of C. elegans metabolism only started recently, notably with the publication of two independent constraint-based metabolic models last year 4,5 (although automated reconstructions from pathway databases were produced before.…”