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Muscle‐derived exophers promote reproductive fitness
Author(s) -
Turek Michał,
Banasiak Katarzyna,
Piechota Małgorzata,
Shanmugam Nilesh,
Macias Matylda,
Śliwińska Małgorzata Alicja,
Niklewicz Marta,
Kowalski Konrad,
Nowak Natalia,
Chacinska Agnieszka,
Pokrzywa Wojciech
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.15252/embr.202052071
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis elegans , microbiology and biotechnology , paracrine signalling , embryo , crosstalk , yolk , oocyte , genetics , gene , ecology , receptor , physics , optics
Organismal functionality and reproduction depend on metabolic rewiring and balanced energy resources. However, the crosstalk between organismal homeostasis and fecundity and the associated paracrine signaling mechanisms are still poorly understood. Using Caenorhabditis elegans , we discovered that large extracellular vesicles (known as exophers) previously found to remove damaged subcellular elements in neurons and cardiomyocytes are released by body wall muscles (BWM) to support embryonic growth. Exopher formation (exopheresis) by BWM is sex‐specific and a non‐cell autonomous process regulated by developing embryos in the uterus. Embryo‐derived factors induce the production of exophers that transport yolk proteins produced in the BWM and ultimately deliver them to newly formed oocytes. Consequently, offspring of mothers with a high number of muscle‐derived exophers grew faster. We propose that the primary role of muscular exopheresis is to stimulate reproductive capacity, thereby influencing the adaptation of worm populations to the current environmental conditions.