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The marginal cells of the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx scavenge cholesterol and other hydrophobic small molecules

Author

Listed:
  • Muntasir Kamal

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Houtan Moshiri

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Lilia Magomedova

    (University of Toronto)

  • Duhyun Han

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Ken C. Q. Nguyen

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • May Yeo

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Jessica Knox

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Rachel Bagg

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Amy M. Won

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Karolina Szlapa

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Christopher M. Yip

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Carolyn L. Cummins

    (University of Toronto)

  • David H. Hall

    (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

  • Peter J. Roy

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a bacterivore filter feeder. Through the contraction of the worm’s pharynx, a bacterial suspension is sucked into the pharynx’s lumen. Excess liquid is then shunted out of the buccal cavity through ancillary channels made by surrounding marginal cells. We find that many worm-bioactive small molecules (a.k.a. wactives) accumulate inside of the marginal cells as crystals or globular spheres. Through screens for mutants that resist the lethality associated with one crystallizing wactive we identify a presumptive sphingomyelin-synthesis pathway that is necessary for crystal and sphere accumulation. We find that expression of sphingomyelin synthase 5 (SMS-5) in the marginal cells is not only sufficient for wactive accumulation but is also important for absorbing exogenous cholesterol, without which C. elegans cannot develop. We conclude that sphingomyelin-rich marginal cells act as a sink to scavenge important nutrients from filtered liquid that might otherwise be shunted back into the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Muntasir Kamal & Houtan Moshiri & Lilia Magomedova & Duhyun Han & Ken C. Q. Nguyen & May Yeo & Jessica Knox & Rachel Bagg & Amy M. Won & Karolina Szlapa & Christopher M. Yip & Carolyn L. Cummins & Dav, 2019. "The marginal cells of the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx scavenge cholesterol and other hydrophobic small molecules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11908-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11908-0
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