Stress-induced phenotypic plasticity in C. elegans

描述（由申请人提供）：环境压力对人类健康有直接但复杂的影响。表型可塑性对环境压力的反应可能导致生存所需的适应以及对健康有害的病理。模式生物秀丽隐杆线虫进入一个抗应激的“dauer”阶段，以应对不利的环境条件。道尔是发育和行为可塑性的典型例子。我们以前表明，dauers进行广泛的和可逆的神经元重塑在一组IL 2感觉神经元，这种重塑是依赖于弗林蛋白酶同系物，KPC-1。在此资助期间，我们将：1）通过鉴定底物来扩展我们对KPC-1在重塑中的作用的研究。此外，我们还将研究KPC-1在C.优雅2)3）分析IL 2的超微结构性质以揭示其固有可塑性所必需的要求。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Environmental stress has direct but complex effects on human health. Phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental stress may result in both adaptations necessary for survival as well as pathologies detrimental to well-being. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans enters into a stress-resistant 'dauer' stage in response to adverse environmental conditions. The dauer is a classic example of developmental and behavioral plasticity. We previously showed that the dauers undergo extensive and reversible neuronal remodeling in a set of IL2 sensory neurons and that this remodeling is dependent on the furin homolog, KPC-1. During this grant period we will: 1) Extend our investigations into the role of KPC-1 in remodeling by identifying substrates. Furthermore, we will investigate the role of KPC-1 in additional stages of phenotype plasticity in C. elegans. 2) Characterize mutants isolated from a mutagenesis screen that are defective in IL2 remodeling 3) Analyze the ultra-structural properties of the IL2 to uncover the requirements necessary for their inherent plasticity.