RRC ID 88027
著者 Yang JB, Chen RT, Chen YY, Lin YH, Chen CH.
タイトル Insulin and epidermal signals independently shape sexually dimorphic neurite branching in C. elegans.
ジャーナル EMBO Rep
Abstract Sexual dimorphism in neural wiring and behavior arises from both intrinsic genetic programs and environmental cues, yet how these factors interact to shape neuronal morphogenesis remains unclear. Here, we investigate sexually dimorphic collateral branching in PVP cholinergic interneurons of Caenorhabditis elegans. In hermaphrodites, PVP branches form near the vulva and exhibit dynamic morphologies enriched with synaptic proteins for dense core vesicles but not synaptic vesicles, suggesting a role in selective neuropeptide transmission. We find that sex identity is necessary but not sufficient for PVP branching. Sex identity engages autonomous insulin signaling via the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 to promote branch formation and modulate dynamic branch morphologies according to nutritional status. However, external epithelial cues from primary vulval cells are both necessary and sufficient to induce branching independent of sex identity. Despite acting through distinct pathways, insulin signaling and vulval cues converge on F-actin cytoskeletal remodeling. These sexually dimorphic PVP branches modulate egg-laying behavior in hermaphrodites. Our study uncovers a multilayered regulatory framework integrating intrinsic sex-specific programs and extrinsic signaling to shape sexually dimorphic neural circuits.
巻・号 26(23)
ページ 5859-5876
公開日 2025-12-1
DOI 10.1038/s44319-025-00608-0
PII 10.1038/s44319-025-00608-0
PMID 41174260
PMC PMC12678580
MeSH Animals Caenorhabditis elegans* / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans* / metabolism Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism Epidermis* / metabolism Female Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism Insulin* / metabolism Interneurons / metabolism Male Neurites* / metabolism Sex Characteristics* Signal Transduction* Vulva / metabolism
リソース情報
線虫 tm2913