Lifespan extension and increased pumping rate accompany pharyngeal muscle-specific expression of nfi-1 in C. elegans.
Caenorhabditis elegans nfi-1 belongs to the Nuclear Factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors known to regulate metazoan gene expression and development. We showed previously that loss of nfi-1 in worms results in multiple behavioral defects; slower pharyngeal pumping rate, impaired egg laying, defective motility, and a shortened life span. Here, we generated cell-type specific transgenic worms to determine the cells in which nfi-1 must be expressed to rescue the pharyngeal pumping defect. Expression of nfi-1 from the pharyngeal muscle-specific myo-2 promoter, but not from the F25B3.3 or myo-3 promoters, rescued the pharyngeal pumping defect of nfi-1 worms. Surprisingly, myo-2-driven nfi-1 expression also rescued the shortened lifespan of nfi-1 worms, demonstrating a possible cell-autonomous role of nfi-1 in pharyngeal muscle for both phenotypes. We propose some relationships between the pharyngeal pumping and lifespan phenotypes and potential mechanisms of nfi-1 function.
Lazakovitch
Elena
E
Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
Kalb
John M
JM
Gronostajski
Richard M
RM
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics; D051839:NFI Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051839:NFI Transcription Factors; D015221:Potassium Channels; C403529:exp-2 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D009218:Myosins