Olfactory chemosensation extends lifespan through TGF-β signaling and UPR activation.

ABSTRACT: Animals rely on chemosensory cues to survive in pathogen-rich environments. In Caenorhabditis elegans, pathogenic bacteria trigger aversive behaviors through neuronal perception and activate molecular defenses throughout the animal. This suggests that neurons can coordinate the activation of organism-wide defensive responses upon pathogen perception. In this study, we found that exposure to volatile pathogen-associated compounds induces activation of the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response (UPR^ER) in peripheral tissues after xbp-1 splicing in neurons. This odorant-induced UPR^ER activation is dependent upon DAF-7/transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling and leads to extended lifespan and enhanced clearance of toxic proteins. Notably, rescue of the

SUBMITTER: De-Souza EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10432268 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature