A Bacterial Metabolite Causes Changes in Neurodegeneration and Aging Via Bioactivation and Hormesis in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Simple item page
dc.contributorCaldwell, Guy A
dc.contributorCiesla, Lukasz
dc.contributorChtarbanova, Stanislava
dc.contributorHodges, Tyler
dc.contributorFanning, Saranna
dc.contributor.advisorCaldwell, Kimberlee A
dc.contributor.authorThies, Jennifer
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-27
dc.date.available2023-01-27
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractMillions of individuals worldwide are affected by neurodegenerative disorders, that result in the progressive deterioration of cells within the nervous system and particular regions of the brain. A leading risk factor to developing neurodegenerative disorders is aging, however, aging cannot be defined by one specific causative agent. A combination of both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the acceleration of cellular damage. This multi-causal deterioration of cells renders individuals more susceptible to diseases.Parkinson's Disease is classified as an idiopathic disorder, with 90% of cases sporadic in nature. Increasing evidence points towards the environment or a combination of both genetic and environmental insults as contributors to the progression of neuronal death and aging. Developing an appropriate cellular defense response to such insults is important for survival and favorable outcomes. Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, I investigated how exposure to a complex secondary compound produced by the soil bacterium, Streptomyces venezuelae, resulted in a specific transcriptional signature associated with activation of detoxification and stress response programs. Analysis revealed neurodegeneration was enhanced through bioactivation of the secondary compound by Phase I and II enzymes, cyp − 35B2. When animals were exposed to this secondary compound at different concentrations, a hormetic aging response was seen. Underlying both phenotypes was the requirement of the stress activated transcription factor DAF-16. The expression pattern of such genes and the differences in longevity depended on functional DAF-16. Previously identified environmental sources of neurodegeneration and aging are known to target mitochondria. Further aging analysis revealed the hormetic longevity response worked through activation of the AMPK pathway, an important regulator of mitochondrial energy and homeostasis that signals to DAF-16. While other gram-positive bacterial sources of neurodegeneration have been identified, the transcriptional signature here differs. These data illuminate the unique nature of this environmental compound and how it regulates a specific set of genes to influence neurodegeneration and aging and provides further understanding of how environmental contributors impact cellular health and aging pathways. They also indicate the importance of dose when working with environmental factors allowing for the identification of targeted therapy treatments for patients.en_US
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otherhttp://purl.lib.ua.edu/186744
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0004568
dc.identifier.otherThies_alatus_0004D_15069
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/9856
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.titleA Bacterial Metabolite Causes Changes in Neurodegeneration and Aging Via Bioactivation and Hormesis in Caenorhabditis Elegansen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Biological Sciences
etdms.degree.disciplineBiology
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.leveldoctoral
etdms.degree.namePh.D.

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
u0015_0000001_0004568.pdf
Size:
27.5 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Theses and Dissertations