[Physiological and molecular control of lipid accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans]

Fat storage is a complex physiological process, and model organism of Caenorhabditis elegans has already been explored as an important model to study lipid accumulation. The lipid particles or fatty acid can be stained or labeled with Sudan Black B or Neil Red. The metabolism pathways for fatty acid synthesis and breakdown in nematodes are almost identical to those in other organisms, and functions of many genes encoding the key regulation enzymes have been identified. At least four central regulation pathways are involved in the fat storage control in nematodes: insulin and TGF-beta signaling pathway, sbp-1/mdt-15 mediated pathway, nhr-49 mediated pathway, and TOR and hexosamine pathway. Moreover, neurotransmitters 5-HT, dopamine, and glutamate were found to participate in the control of lipid accumulation. In addition, involvement of tub-1 and bbs-1 in neuronal control of fat storage suggest the possibly important roles of amphid structure and sensory neurons in regulating lipid accumulation. The data obtained in C. elegans on fat storage control will contribute largely to the study on metabolism related diseases, such as obesity, in human beings.