Project Summary and Abstract The long-term goal of my research group is to understand the mechanisms through which nematodes molt and to use this information to understand fundamental, conserved biological processes. We will determine how the collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds all cells is precisely remodeled during development, informing mammalian dermal physiology, wound healing, and tumor invasion through the ECM. We will reveal how animals coordinate precise patterns of oscillatory gene expression during development. We will explore whether nematode molting is hormonally-regulated, a long-standing question in the field. This work will also provide fundamental insight into how animals couple development with diet. We are also interested in nematode-specific biology, as it offers an intervention point to combat parasitic nematode infections. As a group, these animals afflict an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide, comprising approximately 85% of global neglected tropical diseases. They also threaten food security by infecting crops and livestock. Our long-term goal is to define the mechanisms that ensure faithful molting at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level in C. elegans and then extend our work into parasitic nematode models. Molting involves the coordinated replacement of an animal’s exoskeleton to allow further growth and requires intracellular trafficking, extracellular matrix remodeling, assembly of the new exoskeleton, and a stereotyped series of behaviors to escape the old exoskeleton. In contrast to the deep understanding that we have gained on the mechanisms of arthropod molting, we are only beginning to understand the functions of genes that regulate nematode molting. Shedding light on nematode molting promises to reveal how molting gene regulatory networks have evolved, and to provide pharmacological intervention points in parasitic nematodes. The C. elegans molt cycle is an oscillatory process with similarities to mammalian circadian rhythms, and is regulated by homologs of mammalian clock proteins, such as NHR-23 (homolog of mammalian RORa). The C. elegans molt can lengthen or shorten depending on dietary input, making it a valuable model to explore how environment and diet can impact developmental timing. We will use NHR-23 as an entry point to define upstream regulatory signals and coordinated action of downstream effectors. Our working hypothesis is that steroid hormone signaling controls NHR-23 to promote the oscillatory gene expression that initiates molting and coordinates ECM remodeling. Our aims test key aspects of this hypothesis. In Aim 1, we determine how ECM remodeling during molting is coordinated by the concerted action of proteases and protease inhibitors. In Aim 2, we will determine how oscillatory gene expression is promoted during molting. In Aim 3, we will test whether a ligand drives nematode molting, an elusive question in the field.

Project Narrative Our study of the mechanisms of nematode molting can impact public health in two areas. Processes conserved in humans, such as extracellular matrix remodeling and oscillatory gene expression, could provide insight into human disease and development. Nematode-specific mechanisms are strong candidates to target for developing therapeutics against parasitic nematodes, a class of organisms that infect over one billion people and threaten food security through infesting livestock and crops.