title: GLB-13 is associated with oxidative stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Globins constitute a superfamily of heme-binding proteins that is widely present in many species. There are 33 putative globins in the genome of Caenorhabditis elegans, where glb-13 is a homolog of neuroglobin (Ngb) based on sequence analysis and specific expression in neurons. Here we examined whether glb-13 as well as Ngb is also associated with resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by paraquat. Our results showed that the mRNA level of glb-13 was significantly upregulated after paraquat exposure. Expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene directed by the glb-13 promoter was increased by paraquat exposure. The mutant C. elegans strain glb-13(tm2825) was sensitive to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Overexpression of human Ngb (hNgb) in C. elegans neuronal cells can rescue the paraquat sensitive phenotype of the mutant strain. glb-13 mutation or hNgb overexpression did not affect the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). To examine the ROS-scavenging capabilities of hNgb and glb-13, we further examined the level of ROS in glb-13 mutant and hNgb transgenic (hNgb-Tg) worms. There was no statistical difference in ROS levels in the untreated controls; however in paraquat-treated worms, the ROS level was statistically repressed in the hNgb-Tg relative to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-Tg worms or wildtype animals. Additionally, the ROS level of glb-13 mutant was statistically higher than the wildtype animals. Furthermore, hNgb overexpression diminished the ROS level of glb-13 mutant. In conclusion, hNgb can rescue the ROS sensitive phenotype of the glb-13 mutant strain. The protein GLB-13 seems to have an hNgb-like function, suggesting the importance of the globin protein family in maintaining the homeostasis of ROS signals. Our data provided evidence for the first time that glb-13 is associated with the resistance against oxidative stress-induced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rongrong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dawen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Weiguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoogewijs
authors.forename: Bart P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Braeckman
authors.forename: Sasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henau
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wubin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhaoyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chenggang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004798:Enzymes; C585139:GLB-13 protein, C elegans; D006540:Herbicides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005914:Globins; D010269:Paraquat