Skip to main content

Neuronal SKN-1B modulates nutritional signalling pathways and mitochondrial networks to control satiety.

Citation
Tataridas-Pallas, N., et al. “Neuronal Skn-1B Modulates Nutritional Signalling Pathways And Mitochondrial Networks To Control Satiety.”. Plos Genetics, p. e1009358.
Center Joslin Diabetes Center
Author Nikolaos Tataridas-Pallas, Maximillian A Thompson, Alexander Howard, Ian Brown, Marina Ezcurra, Ziyun Wu, Isabel Goncalves Silva, Christopher D Saunter, Timo Kuerten, David Weinkove, Keith Blackwell, Jennifer M A Tullet
Abstract

The feeling of hunger or satiety results from integration of the sensory nervous system with other physiological and metabolic cues. This regulates food intake, maintains homeostasis and prevents disease. In C. elegans, chemosensory neurons sense food and relay information to the rest of the animal via hormones to control food-related behaviour and physiology. Here we identify a new component of this system, SKN-1B which acts as a central food-responsive node, ultimately controlling satiety and metabolic homeostasis. SKN-1B, an ortholog of mammalian NF-E2 related transcription factors (Nrfs), has previously been implicated with metabolism, respiration and the increased lifespan incurred by dietary restriction. Here we show that SKN-1B acts in two hypothalamus-like ASI neurons to sense food, communicate nutritional status to the organism, and control satiety and exploratory behaviours. This is achieved by SKN-1B modulating endocrine signalling pathways (IIS and TGF-β), and by promoting a robust mitochondrial network. Our data suggest a food-sensing and satiety role for mammalian Nrf proteins.

Year of Publication
2021
Journal
PLoS genetics
Volume
17
Issue
3
Number of Pages
e1009358
Date Published
03/2021
ISSN Number
1553-7404
DOI
10.1371/journal.pgen.1009358
Alternate Journal
PLoS Genet
PMID
33661901
PMCID
PMC7932105
Download citation