Cuticle Collagen Expression Is Regulated in Response to Environmental Stimuli by the GATA Transcription Factor ELT-3 inCaenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is protected from the environment by the cuticle, an extracellular collagen-based matrix that encloses the animal. Over 170 cuticular collagens are predicted in the C. elegans genome, but the role of each individual collagen is unclear. Stage-specific specialization of the cuticle explains the need for some collagens; however, the large number of collagens suggests that specialization of the cuticle may also occur in response to other environmental triggers. Missense mutations in many collagen genes can disrupt cuticle morphology, producing a helically twisted body causing the animal to move in a stereotypical pattern described as rolling. We find that environmental factors, including diet, early developmental arrest, and population density can differentially influence the penetrance of rolling in these mutants. These effects are in part due to changes in collagen gene expression that are mediated by the GATA family transcription factor ELT-3. We propose a model by which ELT-3 regulates collagen gene expression in response to environmental stimuli to promote the assembly of a cuticle specialized to a given environment.

C. elegans Apical Extracellular Matrices Shape Epithelia

“…Some cuticle collagens gradually decrease in expression level throughout adulthood, and excess expression of specific cuticle collagens throughout development can prolong life [ 167 ]. Food deprivation, pathogen infection, or other stressors also can trigger protective upregulation of collagen gene expression [ 167 , 168 , 169 , 170 ]. These observations suggest that cuticle degradation contributes to the aging process, but that the adult cuticle can be repaired when newly secreted aECM components are provided.…”

Form and function of the apical extracellular matrix: new insights from Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and the vertebrate inner ear

“…Disruption of collagens localized to annular furrows triggers specific stress or antimicrobial responses, suggesting furrows are required for sensing environmental conditions 48 . Conversely, cuticle composition may be regulated by environmental conditions such as nutrition or population density, possibly via the epidermal GATA factor ELT-3 24 .…”

Transcriptomics and Co-expression Network Profiling of Effects of Levamisole Hydrochloride on Bursaphelenchus Xylophilus

“…The single-organism process was only in the group of YDvsYG, includes a 3'5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and 3 Cuticle collagen, which were signi cantly up-regulated from low concentration to high concentration. The Cuticle collagen, an extracellular collagen matrix that surrounds C. elegans, is the rst barrier against environmental damage, protecting nematodes from pathogens, dryness, and other stress [24][25][26]. The up-regulation of the high concentration of Cuticle collagen indicated that the integument of B. xylophilus thickened, the resistance of nematodes was enhanced.…”

“…7), which were highly consistent with the previous conjecture that its play important role in xenobiotics metabolism. Among them, highly correlated Cuticle collagen(BUX.gene.s 00540.1) [25]; Lipase (BUX.gene.s 01661.12) [37]; ALDH (BUX.gene.s01144.247) [22] all produced proteins related to nematode immunity. Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta (BUX.gene.s01066.55) is highly related to the TCA cycle and mitochondrial energy metabolism, providing energy for the growth and development of nematodes [38,39,43].…”

“…We speculate that pyruvate dehydrogenase was signi cantly up-regulated because of aldehyde and ketone oxidase oxidated intermediate (disul de). In pro les1, we observed that cuticle collagen (BUX.gene.s00252.94) [25]; Zinc metalloproteinase (BUX.gene.s00579.211) as zinc matrix metalloproteinases can improve the resistance to high temperature and bacteria in C. elegans [44]; Cystathionine beta-synthase (BUX.gene.s00083.35)…”