Transgenerational lipid-reducing activity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Caenorhabditis elegans. 2019

Yit-Lai Chow, and Fumihiko Sato
Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Epigenetic mechanisms allow for transgenerational memory of an ancestor's environment and can affect the gene expression, physiology and phenotype of that ancestor's descendants, independent of DNA sequence alteration. Among many model organisms, Caenorhabditis elegans has been instrumental in studies of transgenerational inheritance, most of which have focused on the effects of external stressors of the parent worm on the life span and stress resistance of future generations. In this work, we used Nile red staining of accumulated lipids in C. elegans to investigate the transgenerational effect of two benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, namely, berberine and sanguinarine. Our results showed that a reduction in Nile red fluorescence can be propagated to subsequent worm generations. Using mutant worms, we found that the transgenerational effect requires the ASH-2 component of the histone H3K4me3 complex and the HRDE-1 worm Argonaute protein. Ash-2 is also required for transgenerational inheritance of the xenobiotic response in the worm. Our study offers new insights into transmissible drug effects across multiple generations and suggests the importance of such analyses in the drug development process.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007546 Isoquinolines A group of compounds with the heterocyclic ring structure of benzo(c)pyridine. The ring structure is characteristic of the group of opium alkaloids such as papaverine. (From Stedman, 25th ed)
D009154 Mutation Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations. Mutations
D010078 Oxazines Six-membered heterocycles containing an oxygen and a nitrogen.
D005298 Fertility The capacity to conceive or to induce conception. It may refer to either the male or female. Fecundity,Below Replacement Fertility,Differential Fertility,Fecundability,Fertility Determinants,Fertility Incentives,Fertility Preferences,Fertility, Below Replacement,Marital Fertility,Natural Fertility,Subfecundity,World Fertility Survey,Determinant, Fertility,Determinants, Fertility,Fertility Determinant,Fertility Incentive,Fertility Preference,Fertility Survey, World,Fertility Surveys, World,Fertility, Differential,Fertility, Marital,Fertility, Natural,Preference, Fertility,Preferences, Fertility,Survey, World Fertility,Surveys, World Fertility,World Fertility Surveys
D005453 Fluorescence The property of emitting radiation while being irradiated. The radiation emitted is usually of longer wavelength than that incident or absorbed, e.g., a substance can be irradiated with invisible radiation and emit visible light. X-ray fluorescence is used in diagnosis.
D000470 Alkaloids Organic nitrogenous bases. Many alkaloids of medical importance occur in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and some have been synthesized. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Alkaloid,Plant Alkaloid,Plant Alkaloids,Alkaloid, Plant,Alkaloids, Plant
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000960 Hypolipidemic Agents Substances that lower the levels of certain LIPIDS in the BLOOD. They are used to treat HYPERLIPIDEMIAS. Antihyperlipidemic,Antilipemic,Antilipemic Agents,Antilipemic Drug,Hypolipidemic Agent,Hypolipidemic Drug,Antihyperlipemics,Antihyperlipidemics,Antilipemic Drugs,Antilipemics,Hypolipidemic Drugs,Agent, Hypolipidemic,Agents, Antilipemic,Agents, Hypolipidemic,Drug, Antilipemic,Drug, Hypolipidemic,Drugs, Antilipemic,Drugs, Hypolipidemic
D001599 Berberine An alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Berberidaceae. It is also found in many other plants. It is relatively toxic parenterally, but has been used orally for various parasitic and fungal infections and as antidiarrheal. Umbellatine
D015262 Xenobiotics Chemical substances that are foreign to the biological system. They include naturally occurring compounds, drugs, environmental agents, carcinogens, insecticides, etc. Xenobiotic

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