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. 2025 Jan 14;122(2):e2407909122.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.2407909122. Epub 2025 Jan 9.

Nonapoptotic role of EGL-1 in exopher production and neuronal health in Caenorhabditis elegans

Zheng Wu  1 , Eric A Cardona  1 , Jesse A Cohn  1 , Jonathan T Pierce  1
Affiliations

Nonapoptotic role of EGL-1 in exopher production and neuronal health in Caenorhabditis elegans

Zheng Wu et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

While traditionally studied for their proapoptotic functions in activating the caspase, research suggests BH3-only proteins also have other roles such as mitochondrial dynamics regulation. Here, we find that EGL-1, the BH3-only protein in Caenorhabditis elegans, promotes the cell-autonomous production of exophers in adult neurons. Exophers are large, micron-scale vesicles that are ejected from the cell and contain cellular components such as mitochondria. EGL-1 facilitates exopher production potentially through regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. Moreover, an endogenous, low level of EGL-1 expression appears to benefit dendritic health. Our findings provide insights into the role of neuronal BH3-only protein in mitochondrial dynamics, downstream exopher production, and ultimately neuronal health.

Keywords: BH3-only protein; exopher; mitochondria; neuroprotection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

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