The C. elegans genome contains sequences similar to a large number of mammalian genes implicated in the assembly, processing, and modification of glycans. In recent years, spectacular progress has been made in developing and refining tools to obtain structural information with small amounts of material, increasing our understanding of glycan structural complexity in this organism. These approaches have revealed novel N- and O-glycan structures in C. elegans, as well as a high degree of conservation in glycosaminoglycan structure. In parallel, studies in which glycan structure is perturbed by genetic manipulation have begun to reveal the roles of specific carbohydrate moieties in developmental and physiological processes. This review summarizes recent work elucidating the fine structure of complex carbohydrates in C. elegans as well as genetic studies that have uncovered novel roles for complex carbohydrates in developmental processes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1895/wormbook.1.125.1 | DOI Listing |
Animals (Basel)
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (R2BGL), Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Rd., Hohhot 010070, China.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3, n-3) are essential for the growth, development, and well-being of mammals. However, most mammals, including humans, cannot synthesize n-3 and n-6 PUFAs and these must be obtained through diet. The beneficial effect of converting n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs) into n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) has led to extensive research on the flax fatty acid desaturase 3 () gene, which encodes fatty acid desaturase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmSystems
January 2025
Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
The microbiomes of host organisms and their direct source environments are closely linked and key for shaping microbial community dynamics. The relationship between these linked dynamics is largely unexplored because source substrates are usually unavailable. To address this current knowledge gap, we employed bacteriovorous nematodes as a unique model system, for which source substrates like rotting apples can be easily collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhytomedicine
January 2025
Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases by Chinese and Western Medicine, Henan Province, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China. Electronic address:
Background: Shenghui Decoction (SHD) is a frequently utilized traditional Chinese medicine formula in clinical settings for addressing cognitive impairment in elderly individuals. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which SHD exerts its effects on the most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains to be elucidated.
Methods: Temperature-induced transgenic C.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
Background: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, is one of the diseases of greatest concern worldwide, and research into natural compounds that are capable of regulating glycemia and insulin resistance is therefore gaining importance. In the preclinical stages, is considered a promising in vivo model for research into this disease. Most studies have been carried out using mutant strains and observing changes in their phenotype rather than directly measuring the effects within the worms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFitoterapia
January 2025
Heidelberg University, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, INF 364, D-69221 Heidelberg, Germany.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, currently with no cure. Its mechanisms are not well understood, however α-synuclein protein aggregation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of PD, leading to neurodegeneration. We demonstrated that in a PD model dietary in Caenorhabditis elegans treatment with an extract from the rhizome of Canna coccinea decreased the accumulation of α-synuclein.
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