A dynamic cycle of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) addition and removal acts on nuclear pore proteins, transcription factors, and kinases to modulate cellular signaling cascades. This nutrient sensing hexosamine signaling pathway is conserved from nematodes to man. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the human O-GlcNAcase gene is linked to type 2 diabetes, suggesting that perturbation of this pathway results in disease. In collaboration the Hanover lab (NIDDK), we showed that the C. elegans genome encodes the two evolutionarily conserved enzymes that mediate O-GlcNAc cycling, with the genes called ogt-1 and oga-1. We previously characterized knockout alleles of ogt-1 and oga-1 genes. Using a combination of genomic expression arrays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) we are looking for genes that respond to nutrient flux differently in the mutants with the hope of identifying pathways of importance. The expression analysis has revealed widespread de-regulation of gene expression in the mutants, identify affected pathways including longevity and aging. We have tested these pathways in the mutants and find alteration in function that are consistent with the gene expression patterns we observe. From the ChIP studies, we have identified a discrete number of genes associated with O-GlcNAcylated proteins. These associations are pronounced at the promoters of the genes and show some overlap with ChIP signals using RNA PolII antibodies. We are currently investigating the functional roles, if any, of these restricted O-GlcNAc chromatin marks. These marks have the potential to link nutritional flux in the cell directly to gene regulation, offering a novel insight into the role of O-GlcNAc cycling in animal physiology and development. In a variety of organisms, including worms, flies, and mammals, glucose homeostasis is maintained by insulin-like signaling in a robust network of opposing and complementary signaling pathways. The hexosamine signaling pathway, terminating in O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) cycling, is a key sensor of nutrient status and has been genetically linked to the regulation of insulin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. During the past year, we have demonstrated that O-GlcNAc cycling and insulin signaling are both essential components of the C. elegans response to glucose stress. A number of insulin-dependent processes were found to be sensitive to glucose stress, including fertility, reproductive timing, and dauer formation, yet each of these differed in their threshold of sensitivity to glucose excess. Our findings suggest that O-GlcNAc cycling and insulin signaling are both required for a robust and adaptable response to glucose stress, but these two pathways show complex and interdependent roles in the maintenance of glucoseinsulin homeostasis. In collaboration with the Hamza Lab (University of Maryland), we continue to use the C. elegans system to explore genes required for proper heme sensing and homeostasis. Further analysis of 288 heme responsive genes (hrgs) by RNAi mediated knockdown in a heme sensing strain has revealed additional genes required for proper heme homeostasis. Our study provides insights into metazoan regulation of organismal heme homeostasis. In collaboration with the Kostrouch and Kostrouchova Labs (Charles University, Prague) we have continued are long-term studies of the many nuclear hormone receptors (nhrs) in C. elegans. The current year project focused on a nhr that was found to have an interesting role in development. This information adds to our general understanding of nhr function and provides insights into the biological pressures in nematodes that have led to a huge expansion of this class of ligand-regulated transcription factors.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$478,303
Indirect Cost
City
State
Country
Zip Code
Fukushige, Tetsunari; Smith, Harold E; Miwa, Johji et al. (2017) A Genetic Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Detoxification Response. Genetics 206:939-952
Sinclair, Jason; Pinter, Katherine; Samuel, Tamika et al. (2017) Inter-organ signalling by HRG-7 promotes systemic haem homeostasis. Nat Cell Biol 19:799-807
Chughtai, Ahmed Ali; Kaššák, Filip; Kostrouchová, Markéta et al. (2015) Perilipin-related protein regulates lipid metabolism in C. elegans. PeerJ 3:e1213
Ghosh, Salil K; Bond, Michelle R; Love, Dona C et al. (2014) Disruption of O-GlcNAc Cycling in C. elegans Perturbs Nucleotide Sugar Pools and Complex Glycans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 5:197
Mikolas, Pavol; Kollarova, Johana; Sebkova, Katerina et al. (2013) GEI-8, a homologue of vertebrate nuclear receptor corepressor NCoR/SMRT, regulates gonad development and neuronal functions in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 8:e58462
Wang, Peng; Lazarus, Brooke D; Forsythe, Michele E et al. (2012) O-GlcNAc cycling mutants modulate proteotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans models of human neurodegenerative diseases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:17669-74
Mondoux, Michelle A; Love, Dona C; Ghosh, Salil K et al. (2011) O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine cycling and insulin signaling are required for the glucose stress response in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 188:369-82
Kouns, Nathaniel A; Nakielna, Johana; Behensky, Frantisek et al. (2011) NHR-23 dependent collagen and hedgehog-related genes required for molting. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 413:515-20
Love, Dona C; Ghosh, Salil; Mondoux, Michelle A et al. (2010) Dynamic O-GlcNAc cycling at promoters of Caenorhabditis elegans genes regulating longevity, stress, and immunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:7413-8
Vohanka, Jaroslav; Simecková, Katerina; Machalová, Eliska et al. (2010) Diversification of fasting regulated transcription in a cluster of duplicated nuclear hormone receptors in C. elegans. Gene Expr Patterns 10:227-36

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