Abstract
The insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway plays a critical role in stress resistance and longevity, but the mechanisms are not fully characterized. To identify genes that mediate stress resistance, we screened for C. elegans mutants that can tolerate high levels of dietary zinc. We identified natc-1, which encodes an evolutionarily conserved subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase C (NAT) complex. N-terminal acetylation is a widespread modification of eukaryotic proteins; however, relatively little is known about the biological functions of NATs. We demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations in natc-1 cause resistance to a broad-spectrum of physiologic stressors, including multiple metals, heat, and oxidation. The C. elegans FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 is a critical target of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway that mediates stress resistance, and DAF-16 is predicted to directly bind the natc-1 promoter. To characterize the regulation of natc-1 by DAF-16 and the function of natc-1 in insulin/IGF-1 signaling, we analyzed molecular and genetic interactions with key components of the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. natc-1 mRNA levels were repressed by DAF-16 activity, indicating natc-1 is a physiological target of DAF-16. Genetic studies suggested that natc-1 functions downstream of daf-16 to mediate stress resistance and dauer formation. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that natc-1 is directly regulated by the DAF-16 transcription factor, and natc-1 is a physiologically significant effector of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway that mediates stress resistance and dauer formation. These studies identify a novel biological function for natc-1 as a modulator of stress resistance and dauer formation and define a functionally significant downstream effector of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Protein N-terminal acetylation mediated by the NatC complex may play an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating stress resistance.
Highlights
The ability to cope with fluctuating environmental stresses is critical for animal survival
Using an unbiased forward genetic screen to discover new mediators of stress tolerance, we identified natc-1, a novel target of DAF-16 and the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. natc-1 encodes a conserved subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase C (NAT) complex
We demonstrated that natc1 mediates diapause entry and stress tolerance
Summary
The ability to cope with fluctuating environmental stresses is critical for animal survival. In addition to mediating a developmental switch in larvae, this pathway functions throughout the life of the animal to mediate stress resistance, since daf-2 lossof-function mutations cause increased tolerance to multiple stresses and an extended lifespan [3,5,6]. These daf-2 mutant phenotypes are suppressed by mutations in daf-16, indicating that daf-16 is a major downstream effector of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway that is negatively regulated by daf-2 activity. Because DAF-16 plays a central role in promoting longevity and stress tolerance, a major goal has been to identify and characterize DAF-16 transcriptional targets
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