title: Nicotinamidase modulation of NAD+ biosynthesis and nicotinamide levels separately affect reproductive development and cell survival in C. elegans.
abstract: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) is a central molecule in cellular metabolism and an obligate co-substrate for NAD(+)-consuming enzymes, which regulate key biological processes such as longevity and stress responses. Although NAD(+) biosynthesis has been intensely studied, little analysis has been done in developmental models. We have uncovered novel developmental roles for a nicotinamidase (PNC), the first enzyme in the NAD(+) salvage pathway of invertebrates. Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans nicotinamidase PNC-1 cause developmental and functional defects in the reproductive system; the development of the gonad is delayed, four uterine cells die by necrosis and the mutant animals are egg-laying defective. The temporal delay in gonad development results from depletion of the salvage pathway product NAD(+), whereas the uv1 cell necrosis and egg-laying defects result from accumulation of the substrate nicotinamide. Thus, regulation of both substrate and product level is key to the biological activity of PNC-1. We also find that diet probably affects the levels of these metabolites, as it affects phenotypes. Finally, we identified a secreted isoform of PNC-1 and confirmed its extracellular localization and functional activity in vivo. We demonstrate that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), the equivalent enzyme in nicotinamide recycling to NAD(+) in vertebrates, can functionally substitute for PNC-1. As Nampt is also secreted, we postulate an evolutionarily conserved extracellular role for NAD(+) biosynthetic enzymes during development and physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Vrablik
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hanna-Rose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D009243:NAD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009535:Nicotinamidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009243:NAD; D009536:Niacinamide; D009535:Nicotinamidase