title: Developmental decisions: balancing genetics and the environment by C. elegans.
abstract: The small nematode C. elegans is characterized by developing through a highly coordinated, reproducible cell lineage that serves as the basis of many studies focusing on the development of multi-lineage organisms. Indeed, the reproducible cell lineage enables discovery of developmental defects that occur in even a single cell. Only recently has attention been focused on how these animals modify their genetically programmed cell lineages to adapt to altered environments. Here, we summarize the current understanding of how C. elegans responds to food deprivation by adapting their developmental program in order to conserve energy. In particular, we highlight the AMPK-mediated and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways that are the principal regulators of induced cell cycle quiescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: Richard Mako
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004777:Environment; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases