title: Neural Regulatory Pathways of Feeding and Fat in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The compact nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans and its genetic tractability are features that make this organism highly suitable for investigating energy balance in an animal system. Here, we focus on molecular components and organizational principles emerging from the investigation of pathways that largely originate in the nervous system and regulate feeding behavior but also peripheral fat regulation through neuroendocrine signaling. We provide an overview of studies aimed at understanding how C. elegans integrate internal and external cues in feeding behavior. We highlight some of the similarities and differences in energy balance between C. elegans and mammals. We also provide our perspective on unresolved issues, both conceptual and technical, that we believe have hampered critical evaluation of findings relevant to fat regulation in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158; email: kaveh.ashrafi@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lemieux
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158; email: kaveh.ashrafi@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Kaveh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D009655:Octopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009655:Octopamine; D012701:Serotonin; D014439:Tyramine
keywords: AMP-activated kinase; TGF-β; fasting; insulin; kynurenic; serotonin