EPISODE 10: Self or Snack? Peptide-Mediated Kin Recognition in Pristionchus pacificus
The Worm Podcast23 Apr 2025

EPISODE 10: Self or Snack? Peptide-Mediated Kin Recognition in Pristionchus pacificus

How do predatory nematodes avoid cannibalising their own offspring? In this episode, we explore a remarkable study that uncovers a peptide-based self-recognition system in Pristionchus pacificus. This system hinges on a single hypervariable peptide, SELF-1, which allows individuals to distinguish between kin and non-kin—preventing self-killing but enabling predation on rivals.


We discuss:


  • The discovery and characterisation of the self-1 gene

  • How a single amino acid change can disrupt recognition

  • The role of hypervariable C-terminal sequences in defining identity

  • CRISPR-Cas9 experiments to map and manipulate self-recognition

  • Why this system may represent a new form of species- and strain-specific recognition in the animal kingdom



📖 Based on the research article:

“Small peptide–mediated self-recognition prevents cannibalism in predatory nematodes”

James W. Lightfoot, Martin Wilecki, Christian Rödelsperger, et al.

Published in Science (2019).

🔗 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav9856



🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more on whole-organism behaviour, evolution, and molecular mechanisms of identity.

🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com


Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(60)

EPISODE 60: Why Worms Switch Their Immune System Off

EPISODE 60: Why Worms Switch Their Immune System Off

Welcome to the next episode of The Worm Podcast 🧠Today we are looking at a surprising idea in host defence:sometimes an animal is not trying to activate immunity.It is trying to hold it back.This pap...

23 Sep 22min

EPISODE 59: Food or Sex? The Worm Has to Choose

EPISODE 59: Food or Sex? The Worm Has to Choose

Welcome to the next episode of The Worm Podcast 🧠Today we are talking about a problem every animal faces:where should I spend my energy?For C. elegans, the answer depends partly on sex.Hermaphrodites...

16 Sep 19min

EPISODE 58: The Diet That Gave a Worm Its Copper Back

EPISODE 58: The Diet That Gave a Worm Its Copper Back

Welcome to the next episode of The Worm Podcast 🧠Today we are looking at copper, bacteria and a surprising dietary rescue.Copper is an essential micronutrient. Cells need it for mitochondrial energy ...

9 Sep 19min

EPISODE 57: AI Watches Worms Eat

EPISODE 57: AI Watches Worms Eat

Welcome to the next episode of The Worm Podcast 🤖Today we are talking about feeding.More specifically, how do you measure a worm eating when the worm refuses to stay still?The answer might be PumpKin...

2 Sep 22min

EPISODE 56: A Little Heat Makes a Stronger Worm

EPISODE 56: A Little Heat Makes a Stronger Worm

Welcome to the next episode of The Worm Podcast 🔥Can a little bit of stress actually make you stronger?In C. elegans, the answer appears to be yes.This episode explores heat hormesis — the idea that ...

26 Aug 20min

EPISODE 55: The Worm’s Stress Network

EPISODE 55: The Worm’s Stress Network

Welcome to the next episode of the WOrM Podcast 🪱⚡Today we are looking at how one stress-response protein helps a worm adapt to changing conditions.At the centre of the story is PMK-1, the C. elegans...

19 Aug 23min

EPISODE 54: Sleep, Fat and Memory: One Neuron Does It All

EPISODE 54: Sleep, Fat and Memory: One Neuron Does It All

Welcome to the next episode of the WOrM Podcast 🪱💤Today we are looking at a single sleep-active neuron that connects far more than sleep.In C. elegans, the RIS neuron helps regulate:• sleep• lipid s...

12 Aug 20min

EPISODE 53: Worms on Pause

EPISODE 53: Worms on Pause

Welcome to the next episode of the WOrM Podcast 🪱⏸️Today, we are talking about worms that appear to stop living—without dying.Researchers have identified a new, reversible state of suspended animatio...

5 Aug 26min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
romkapsel
jss
tingenes-tilstand
liberal-halvtime
sinnsyn
villmarksliv
forskningno
rekommandert
rss-paradigmepodden
fjellsportpodden
grunnstoffene
nordnorsk-historie
rss-nysgjerrige-norge
smart-forklart
rss-inn-til-kjernen-med-sunniva-rose
rss-rekommandert
psykopoden
tidlose-historier
rss-overskuddsliv