A Persistence Detector for Metabolic Network Rewiring in an Animal

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.064
• Publication Date: 2019-01-09T04:23:10Z
• Authors: Jote T. Bulcha; Gabrielle E. Giese; Md. Zulfikar Ali; Yong-Uk Lee; Melissa D. Walker; Amy D. Holdorf; L. Safak Yilmaz; Robert C. Brewster; Albertha J.M. Wal...
• Keywords: Persistence (discontinuity)

Biological systems must possess mechanisms that prevent inappropriate responses to spurious environmental inputs. Caenorhabditis elegans has two breakdown pathways for the short-chain fatty acid propionate: a canonical, vitamin B12-dependent pathway and propionate shunt is used when B12 levels are low. The kept off there sufficient flux through canonical pathway, likely avoid generating shunt-specific toxic intermediates. Here, we discovered transcriptional regulatory circuit activates gene expression upon buildup. Nuclear hormone receptor 10 (NHR-10) NHR-68 function together as "persistence detector" in type 1, coherent feed-forward loop with an AND-logic gate delay activation accumulation response non-sustained pulse of propionate. Together, our findings identify persistence detector animal, which transcriptionally rewires metabolism maintain homeostasis.