A5021459476- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Selenium in Biological Systems
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
Weizmann Institute of Science
2016-2024
Institute of Photonic Sciences
2022
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2013-2019
Bar-Ilan University
2009-2017
Yeshiva University
2013-2014
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
2002
Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in nervous system each sex. However, genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we create a comprehensive gene expression atlas pure populations hermaphrodites males nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. We discover numerous differentially expressed genes, including neuronal families like transcription factors,...
The effect of the detailed connectivity a neural circuit on its function and resulting behavior organism is key question in many systems. Here, we study for nociception C. elegans, which composed same neurons two sexes that are wired differently. We show nociceptive sensory respond similarly sexes, yet animals display sexually dimorphic behaviors to aversive stimuli. To uncover role downstream network topology shaping behavior, learn simulate models replicate observed use them predict simple...
Molecular chaperones are essential cellular components that aid in protein folding and preventing the abnormal aggregation of disease-associated proteins. Mutations one such chaperone, DNAJB6, were identified patients with LGMDD1, a dominant autosomal disorder characterized by myofibrillar degeneration accumulations aggregated within myocytes. The molecular mechanisms through which mutations cause this dysfunction, however, not well understood. Here we employ combination solution NMR...
Animals sample their environment through sensory neurons with often elaborately branched endings named dendritic arbors. In a genetic screen for genes involved in the development of highly arborized somatosensory PVD neuron C. elegans, we have identified mutations kpc-1, which encodes homolog proprotein convertase furin. We show that kpc-1/furin is necessary to promote formation higher order branches and ensure self-avoidance sister branches, but likely not required during maintenance A...
Dendritic arbors are crucial for nervous system assembly, but the intracellular mechanisms that govern their assembly remain incompletely understood. Here, we show dendrites of PVD neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans patterned by distinct pathways downstream DMA-1 leucine-rich transmembrane (LRR-TM) receptor. DMA-1/LRR-TM interacts through a PDZ ligand motif with guanine nucleotide exchange factor TIAM-1/GEF complex act-4/Actin to pattern higher order 4° dendrite branches localizing F-actin...
Sexually dimorphic circuits underlie behavioral differences between the sexes, yet molecular mechanisms involved in their formation are poorly understood. We show here that sexually connectivity patterns arise C. elegans through local ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation selected synapses of one sex but not other. Specifically, synaptic occurs via binding evolutionary conserved E3 ligase SEL-10/FBW7 to a phosphodegron site netrin receptor UNC-40/DCC (Deleted Colorectal Cancer), resulting...
Abstract How sensory perception is processed by the two sexes of an organism still only partially understood. Despite some evidence for sexual dimorphism in auditory and olfactory perception, whether touch sensed a dimorphic manner has not been addressed. Here we find that neuronal circuit tail mechanosensation C. elegans wired differently employs different combination sex-shared neurons interneurons each sex. Reverse genetic screens uncovered cell- sex-specific functions alpha-tubulin...
The C. elegans germline is pluripotent and mitotic, similar to self-renewing mammalian tissues. Apoptosis triggered as part of the normal oogenesis program, increased in response various stresses. Here, we examined effect endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on apoptosis germline. We demonstrate that pharmacological or genetic induction ER enhances apoptosis. This process mediated by sensor IRE-1, but independent its canonical downstream target XBP-1. further ire-1-dependent requires both...
Abstract The poet W.B Yeats wrote that “All is personal soon rots, it must be packed in ice or salt” . Here we show Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, simple animals with just 302 neurons, memories are preserved on and lithium salt. C. nematodes can form associative memories, which typically forgotten quickly. We discovered when placed ice, worms delay forgetting of specific olfactory by at least 8-fold. Delayed was canceled completely the were gradually adapted to low temperatures, owing a...
Neurons receive excitatory or sensory inputs through their dendrites, which often branch extensively to form unique neuron-specific structures. How neurons regulate the formation of particular arbor is only partially understood. In genetic screens using multidendritic PVD somatosensory in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we identified a mutation ER stress sensor IRE-1/Ire1 (inositol requiring enzyme 1) as crucial for proper dendrite arborization vivo. We further found that regulation growth...
The Runx3 transcription factor is essential for development and diversification of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) TrkC sensory neurons. In Runx3-deficient mice, developing neurons fail to extend central peripheral afferents, leading cell death disruption stretch reflex circuit, resulting in severe limb ataxia. Despite its role, mechanisms underlying spatiotemporal expression specificities were largely unknown. Here we first defined genomic unit encompassing regulatory elements (REs) that...
How lifespan and the rate of aging are set is a key problem in biology. Small RNAs conserved molecules that impact diverse biological processes through control gene expression. However, contrast to miRNAs, role endo-siRNAs remains unexplored. Here, by combining deep sequencing genomic genetic approaches Caenorhabditis elegans, we reveal an unprecedented for endo-siRNA maintenance proteostasis extension germline-less animals. Furthermore, identify endo-siRNA-regulated tyrosine phosphatase,...
Understanding the molecular events that regulate cell pluripotency versus acquisition of differentiated somatic fate is fundamentally important. Studies in Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrate knockout germline-specific translation repressor gld-1 causes germ cells within tumorous gonads to form germline-derived teratoma. Previously we demonstrated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress enhances this phenotype suppress germline tumor progression(Levi-Ferber et al., 2015). Here, identify a neuronal...
Sex-specific behaviors within a species are often attributed to variances in neuronal wiring and molecular signatures. However, how the genetic sex shapes architecture of nervous system at single neuron level is still unknown. To address this gap, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) profile transcriptome sex-shared adult male hermaphrodite Caenorhabditis elegans. By ranking neurons based on degree dimorphism, uncover novel sexually dimorphic such as PLM neurons, where functional...
Summary Development of dendritic arbors is crucial for nervous system assembly, but the intracellular mechanisms that govern these processes remain incompletely understood. Here we show complex trees PVD somatosensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans are patterned by distinct pathways downstream DMA-1 leucine rich transmembrane (LRR-TM) receptor. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor tiam-1/GEF and act-4/Actin function with DMA-1/LRR-TM to pattern 4° higher order branches localizing...
SUMMARY How sexually dimorphic behavior is encoded in the nervous system poorly understood. Here, we characterize nociceptive C. elegans and study underlying circuits, which are composed of same neurons but wired differently. We show that while sensory transduction similar two sexes, downstream network topology markedly shapes behavior. fit a model replicates observed response to external stimuli, use it predict simple rewirings would switch between sexes. then experimentally these subtle...
ABSTRACT How sensory perception is processed by the two sexes of an organism still only partially understood. Despite some evidence for sexual dimorphism in auditory and olfactory perception, whether touch sensed a dimorphic manner has not been addressed. Here we find that neuronal circuit tail mechanosensation C. elegans wired differently employs different combination sex-shared neurons interneurons each sex. Reverse genetic screens uncovered cell- sex-specific functions alpha-tubulin...
ABSTRACT Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in nervous system each sex. However, genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we created a comprehensive gene expression atlas both sexes nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. By comparing transcriptome pure populations hermaphrodites males from early larval stages to adulthood, discovered numerous...