title: Diverse functions of mRNA metabolism factors in stress defense and aging of Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Processing bodies (PBs) and stress granules (SGs) are related, cytoplasmic RNA-protein complexes that contribute to post-transcriptional gene regulation in all eukaryotic cells. Both structures contain translationally repressed mRNAs and several proteins involved in silencing, stabilization or degradation of mRNAs, especially under environmental stress. Here, we monitored the dynamic formation of PBs and SGs, in somatic cells of adult worms, using fluorescently tagged protein markers of each complex. Both complexes were accumulated in response to various stress conditions, but distinct modes of SG formation were induced, depending on the insult. We also observed an age-dependent accumulation of PBs but not of SGs. We further showed that direct alterations in PB-related genes can influence aging and normal stress responses, beyond their developmental role. In addition, disruption of SG-related genes had diverse effects on development, fertility, lifespan and stress resistance of worms. Our work therefore underlines the important roles of mRNA metabolism factors in several vital cellular processes and provides insight into their diverse functions in a multicellular organism.
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece; Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Aris
authors: A
authors: Rousakis
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Vlanti
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece; Faculty of Biology, School of Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Fivos
authors: F
authors: Borbolis
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece; Faculty of Biology, School of Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Fani
authors: F
authors: Roumelioti
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, University of Crete, Heraklio, Crete, Greece.
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Kapetanou
authors: Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Center of Basic Research II, Athens, Greece.
authors: Popi
authors: P
authors: Syntichaki
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger