The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans synthesizes unusual O-linked glycans: identification of glucose-substituted mucin-type O-glycans and short chondroitin-like oligosaccharides

2001 ◽  
Vol 357 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann GUÉRARDEL ◽  
Luis BALANZINO ◽  
Emmanuel MAES ◽  
Yves LEROY ◽  
Bernadette CODDEVILLE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Experimental Procedure ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Free Living Nematode ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Insight Into

The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a relevant model for studies on the role of glycoconjugates during development of multicellular organisms. Several genes coding for glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of N- and O-linked glycans have already been isolated, but, apart from repetitive dimers of glycosaminoglycans, no detailed structure of either type of component has been published so far. This study aimed to establish the structures of the major O-glycans synthesized by C. elegans to give an insight into the endogenous glycosyltransferase activities expressed in this organism. By the use of NMR and MS, we have resolved the sequence of seven of these components that present very unusual features. Most of them were characterized by the type-1 core substituted on Gal and/or GalNAc by (β1–4)Glc and (β1–6)Glc residues. Another compound exhibited the GalNAc(β1–4)N-acetylglucosaminitol sequence in the terminal position, to which was attached a tetramer of β-Gal substituted by both Fuc and 2-O-methyl-fucose residues. Our experimental procedure led also to the isolation of glycosaminoglycan-like components and oligomannosyl-type N-glycans. In particular, the data confirmed that C. elegans synthesizes the ubiquitous linker sequence GlcA(β1–3)Gal(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Xyl.

Nutritional requirements for pantothenate, pantethine or coenzyme A in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Nematology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Lu ◽  
Rekha Balachandar
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Coenzyme A ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Calcium Pantothenate ◽  
Axenic Medium ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Free Living ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Free Living Nematode ◽  
Mild Toxicity

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode cultured in an axenic medium, the Caenorhabditis elegans Maintenance Medium (CeMM), which contains B-vitamins, salts, amino acids, nucleic acid substituents, growth factors and glucose as an energy source. After initial experiments established that either pantothenate or pantethine would satisfy the vitamin B5 requirement in C. elegans, reproduction in the nematodes was measured in eight equimolar concentrations of calcium pantothenate, pantethine or coenzyme A. The optimal levels for pantothenate were found to be 7.5, 30 and 120 μg ml−1. The optimal levels for pantethine and coenzyme A were found to be 35 μg ml−1 and 100 μg ml−1, respectively. Among the three compounds, coenzyme A (at 100 μg/ml) supported a significantly greater population growth and, perhaps, is a more metabolically active form. Mild toxicity was demonstrated for pantothenate at 480μg ml−1, pantethine at 560 and 140 μg ml−1, and coenzyme A was found to exhibit toxicity at 410 and 1700 μg ml−1. Based on our results, we recommend that in the future the CeMM could be supplemented with pantothenate (7.5 μg ml−1) alone.

Metabolism and inactivation of neurotransmitters in nematodes

Parasitology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 113 (S1) ◽  
pp. S157-S173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Isaac ◽  
D. Macgregor ◽  
D. Coates
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Nervous Systems ◽  
Target Proteins ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Free Living Nematode ◽  
Increasing Knowledge ◽  
Insight Into

SUMMARYThe nematode nervous system employs many of the same neurotransmitters as are found in higher animals. The inactivation of neurotransmitters is absolutely essential for the correct functioning of the nervous system, In this article we discuss the various mechanisms used generally in animal nervous systems for synaptic inactivation of neurotransmitters and review the evidence for similar mechanisms operating in parasitic and free-living nematodes. The sequencing of the entireCaenorhabditis elegansgenome means that the sequence of nematode genes can be accessed from theC. elegansdatabase (ACeDB) and this wealth of information together with the increasing knowledge of the genetics of this free-living nematode will have great impact on all aspects of nematode neurobiology. The review will provide an insight into how this information may be exploited to identify and characterize target proteins for the development of novel anti-nematode drugs.

scholarly journals Molecular and biochemical characterization of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

1998 ◽  
Vol 336 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akram A. DA'DARA ◽  
Rolf D. WALTER
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Polyamine Biosynthesis ◽  
Calculated Molecular Mass ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase ◽  
Free Living Nematode

S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) is a major regulatory enzyme in the polyamine biosynthesis and is considered a potentially important drug target for the chemotherapy of proliferative and parasitic diseases. To study regulatory mechanisms which are involved in the expression of SAMDC of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we have isolated the SAMDC gene and cDNA. Genomic Southern-blot analysis suggests that the C. elegans SAMDC is encoded by a single-copy gene which spans 3.9 kb and consists of six exons and five introns. The first two introns are located in the 5´-untranslated region (UTR). Analyses of the 5´-flanking region of the gene revealed several consensus sequences for the binding of different transcription factors such as CBP, AP2, cMyb, VPE2 and others. The C. elegans SAMDC mRNA possesses an open reading frame (ORF) which encodes a polypeptide of 368 amino acids, corresponding to a SAMDC proenzyme with a calculated molecular mass of 42141 Da. The active form of the C. elegans SAMDC is a heterotetramer, consisting of two subunits of 32 and 10 kDa derived from cleavage of the pro-enzyme. The SAMDC mRNA has an unusually long 5´-UTR of 477 nucleotides. This region has a small ORF which could encode a putative peptide of 17 residues. Moreover, the C. elegans SAMDC mRNA is trans-spliced with the 22 nucleotides spliced leader sequence at the 5´-end.

A role of SAND-family proteins in endocytosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Poteryaev ◽  
A. Spang
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Model System ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Insight Into

Caenorhabditis elegans has recently been used as an attractive model system to gain insight into mechanisms of endocytosis in multicellular organisms. A combination of forward and reverse genetics has identified a number of new membrane trafficking factors. Most of them have mammalian homologues which function in the same transport events. We describe a novel C. elegans gene sand-1, whose loss of function causes profound endocytic defects in many tissues. SAND-1 belongs to a conserved family of proteins present in all eukaryotic species, whose genome is sequenced. However, SAND family has not been previously characterized in metazoa. Our comparison of C. elegans SAND-1 and its yeast homologue, Mon1p, showed a conserved role of the SAND-family proteins in late steps of endocytic transport.

Effectiveness of Cleaners and Sanitizers in Killing Salmonella Newport in the Gut of a Free-Living Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans

2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2151-2157 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN J. KENNEY ◽  
GARY L. ANDERSON ◽  
PHILLIP L. WILLIAMS ◽  
PATRICIA D. MILLNER ◽  
LARRY R. BEUCHAT
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Nalidixic Acid ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Free Living ◽  
E Coli ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Salmonella Newport ◽  
Free Living Nematode

Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode found in soil, has been shown to ingest human enteric pathogens, thereby potentially serving as a vector for preharvest contamination of fruits and vegetables. A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of cleaners and sanitizers in killing Salmonella enterica serotype Newport in the gut of C. elegans. Adult worms were fed nalidixic acid–adapted cells of Escherichia coli OP50 (control) or Salmonella Newport for 24 h, washed, placed on paper discs, and incubated at temperatures of 4 or 20°C and relative humidities of 33 or 98% for 24 h. Two commercial cleaners (Enforce and K Foam Lo) and four sanitizers (2% acetic acid, 2% lactic acid, Sanova, and chlorine [50 and 200 μg/ml]) were applied to worms for 0, 2, or 10 min. Populations of E. coli and Salmonella Newport (CFU per worm) in untreated and treated worms were determined by sonicating worms in 0.1% peptone and surface plating suspensions of released cells on tryptic soy agar containing nalidixic acid. Populations of Salmonella Newport in worms exposed to 33 or 98% relative humidity at 4°C or 33% relative humidity at 20°C were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than the number surviving exposure to 98% relative humidity at 20°C. In general, treatment of desiccated worms with cleaners and sanitizers was effective in significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reducing the number of ingested Salmonella Newport. Results indicate that temperature and relative humidity influence the survival of Salmonella Newport in the gut of C. elegans, and cleaners and sanitizers may not eliminate the pathogen.

scholarly journals Haematophagic Caenorhabditis elegans

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veeren M Chauhan ◽  
David I Pritchard
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Fluorescent Microscopy ◽  
Free Living ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Vaccine Responses ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Free Living Nematode ◽  
Bright Emission

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode that resides in soil and typically feeds on bacteria. We postulate that haematophagic C. elegans could provide a model to evaluate vaccine responses to intestinal proteins from hematophagous nematode parasites, such as Necator americanus. Human erythrocytes, fluorescently labelled with tetramethylrhodamine succinimidyl ester, demonstrated a stable bright emission and facilitated visualization of feeding events with fluorescent microscopy. C. elegans were observed feeding on erythrocytes and were shown to rupture red blood cells upon capture to release and ingest their contents. In addition, C. elegans survived equally on a diet of erythrocytes. There was no statistically significant difference in survival when compared with a diet of Escherichia coli OP50. The enzymes responsible for the digestion and detoxification of haem and haemoglobin, which are key components of the hookworm vaccine, were found in the C. elegans intestine. These findings support our postulate that free-living nematodes could provide a model for the assessment of neutralizing antibodies to current and future hematophagous parasite vaccine candidates.

scholarly journals Effects of NAD+ in Caenorhabditis elegans Models of Neuronal Damage

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 993
Author(s):  
Yuri Lee ◽  
Hyeseon Jeong ◽  
Kyung Hwan Park ◽  
Kyung Won Kim
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Axon Regeneration ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Neuronal Functions ◽  
Molecular Components

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential cofactor that mediates numerous biological processes in all living cells. Multiple NAD+ biosynthetic enzymes and NAD+-consuming enzymes are involved in neuroprotection and axon regeneration. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has served as a model to study the neuronal role of NAD+ because many molecular components regulating NAD+ are highly conserved. This review focuses on recent findings using C. elegans models of neuronal damage pertaining to the neuronal functions of NAD+ and its precursors, including a neuroprotective role against excitotoxicity and axon degeneration as well as an inhibitory role in axon regeneration. The regulation of NAD+ levels could be a promising therapeutic strategy to counter many neurodegenerative diseases, as well as neurotoxin-induced and traumatic neuronal damage.

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