IMAGE: SKN-1B tagged with GFP can be seen in two chemosensory head neurons. SKN-1B works in these neurons to sense food sensitivity and to obtain appropriate behavioral changes. view more
Credit: Tataridas-Pallas N, et al., 2021, PLOS Genetics
In nematode worms, a primary regulator allows the worm to sense when it needs food and when it feels full, and then change its behavior accordingly. Jennifer Tullet of the University of Kent and her colleagues will report on these new findings in a paper published on March 4 in Genetics PLOS. They suggest that the same may control feelings of fullness in humans.
Deciding when and what to eat is crucial to maintaining health and preventing overeating. Our bodies receive complex molecular signals from our nervous, physical and metabolic systems, which tell us when we are hungry and when we stop eating, but there is no understanding still good on how those signals work. Tullet and her colleagues used the nematode worm C. elegans, to study how the worm’s nervous system senses its food status and communicates fullness to the rest of the animal. They identified a new key regulator of this system, SKN-1B, which appears to be heavily involved in food detection and food-related behavior. SKN-1B is a transcription factor, meaning it can regulate when other genes are turned on or off. The researchers found that it works by altering hormonal signals in the worm and activating the network of mitochondria that power each cell. Based on the nutritional needs of the worm, SKN-1B can tell the animal to switch between behaviors, such as foraging, eating and taking a nap after a meal.
The new study suggests the possibility of a similar transcription feature in humans regulating food sensitivity and the feeling of being full. Instead of SKN-1B, mammals have related transcription factors NF-E2, or Nrfs, which scientists believe work in metabolism and the process of converting food nutrients into energy. Nrfs play a part in the phenomenon where animals live longer when they burn their calories. If future research confirms the role of Nrfs in identifying fullness, Nrfs may be a new target for the development of over-the-counter drugs.
The authors say, “We are excited about this work, understanding the neuroendocrinology of eating and sleeping is so important to lifelong health and well-being”.
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Peer review; Experimental study; Cells
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Citation: Tataridas-Pallas N, Thompson MA, Howard A, Brown I, Ezcurra M, Wu Z, et al. (2021) Neuronal SKN-1B modulates nutrient signaling pathways and mitochondrial networks to control satiety. PLoS Genet 17 (3): e1009358.
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Funding: This work was funded by awards from UKRI | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to JMAT BB / R003629 / 1; and HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH) AG054215; GM122610; and DK036836 to TKB. The funders were not involved in the design of a study, the collection and analysis of data, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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