AUTHOR=Hernandez-Lima Mirella A. , Champion Margaret , Mattiola Zachary , Truttmann Matthias C. 

TITLE=The AMPylase FIC-1 modulates TGF-β signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2022.912734

DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2022.912734

ISSN=1662-5099

ABSTRACT=<p>Post-translational protein modifications are essential for the spatio-temporal regulation of protein function. In this study, we examine how the activity of the <italic>Caenorhabditis elegans</italic> AMPylase FIC-1 modulates physiological processes <italic>in vivo</italic>. We find that over-expression (OE) of the constitutive AMPylase FIC-1(E274G) impairs <italic>C. elegans</italic> development, fertility, and stress resilience. We also show that FIC-1(E274G) OE inhibits pathogen avoidance behavior by selectively suppressing production of the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) ligands DAF-7 and DBL-1 in ASI sensory neurons. Finally, we demonstrate that FIC-1 contributes to the regulation of adult body growth, cholinergic neuron function, and larval entry into dauer stage; all processes controlled by TGF-β signaling. Together, our results suggest a role for FIC-1 in regulating TGF-β signaling in <italic>C. elegans</italic>.</p>