RRC ID 76294
Author Shi Y, Qin L, Wu M, Zheng J, Xie T, Shao Z.
Title Gut neuroendocrine signaling regulates synaptic assembly in C. elegans.
Journal EMBO Rep
Abstract Synaptic connections are essential to build a functional brain. How synapses are formed during development is a fundamental question in neuroscience. Recent studies provided evidence that the gut plays an important role in neuronal development through processing signals derived from gut microbes or nutrients. Defects in gut-brain communication can lead to various neurological disorders. Although the roles of the gut in communicating signals from its internal environment to the brain are well known, it remains unclear whether the gut plays a genetically encoded role in neuronal development. Using C. elegans as a model, we uncover that a Wnt-endocrine signaling pathway in the gut regulates synaptic development in the brain. A canonical Wnt signaling pathway promotes synapse formation through regulating the expression of the neuropeptides encoding gene nlp-40 in the gut, which functions through the neuronally expressed GPCR/AEX-2 receptor during development. Wnt-NLP-40-AEX-2 signaling likely acts to modulate neuronal activity. Our study reveals a genetic role of the gut in synaptic development and identifies a novel contribution of the gut-brain axis.
Volume 23(8)
Pages e53267
Published 2022-8-3
DOI 10.15252/embr.202153267
PMID 35748387
PMC PMC9346499
MeSH Animals Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins* / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins* / metabolism Neuropeptides* / genetics Neuropeptides* / metabolism Synapses / physiology Wnt Signaling Pathway
Resource
C.elegans tm4085