Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 23;8(1):6398. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24925-8.
Endocannabinoids in Caenorhabditis elegans are essential for the mobilization of cholesterol from internal reserves.
Galles C1, Prez GM1, Penkov S2, Boland S3, Porta EOJ4, Altabe SG1, Labadie GR4, Schmidt U5, Knölker HJ5, Kurzchalia TV6, de Mendoza D7.
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Abstract
Proper cholesterol transport is crucial for the functionality of cells. In C. elegans, certain cholesterol derivatives called dafachronic acids (DAs) govern the entry into diapause. In their absence, worms form a developmentally arrested dauer larva. Thus, cholesterol transport to appropriate places for DA biosynthesis warrants the reproductive growth. Recently, we discovered a novel class of glycosphingolipids, PEGCs, required for cholesterol mobilization/transport from internal storage pools. Here, we identify other components involved in this process. We found that strains lacking polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) undergo increased dauer arrest when grown without cholesterol. This correlates with the depletion of the PUFA-derived endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoyl glycerol and anandamide. Feeding of these endocannabinoids inhibits dauer formation caused by PUFAs deficiency or impaired cholesterol trafficking (e.g. in Niemann-Pick C1 or DAF-7/TGF-β mutants). Moreover, in parallel to PEGCs, endocannabinoids abolish the arrest induced by cholesterol depletion. These findings reveal an unsuspected function of endocannabinoids in cholesterol trafficking regulation.
PMID: 29686301 PMCID: PMC5913221 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24925-8
[Indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article
