{
  "id": 10734450,
  "title": "A PPARγ-like signalling axis integrates lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial quality control to preserve neuronal integrity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/a-ppar-like-signalling-axis-integrates-lipid-homeostasis-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755091v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR{gamma}) is a crucial regulator of lipid metabolism, playing a vital role in neuroprotection. However, the connection between these functions has not been well understood. In this study, researchers identified the Caenorhabditis elegans nuclear receptor SEX-1 as a PPAR{gamma}-like regulator. They defined a pathway that links lipid metabolism with mitochondrial homeostasis to maintain neuronal function.\n\nBy combining comparative genomics, multi-omics profiling, meta-analysis, and experimental validation, the team demonstrated that SEX-1 controls membrane sphingolipid metabolism, lipid droplet dynamics, and mitochondrial quality control through interconnected lipogenic and autophagic processes. When SEX-1 is lost, these metabolic networks are disrupted, leading to abnormal lipid droplet buildup, mitochondrial malfunction, and extensive changes in sphingolipid metabolism. These issues compromise the structural stability and thermosensory abilities of amphid neurons during early adulthood. Furthermore, the ability of SEX-1 to limit neuronal lipid droplet accumulation decreases with age.\n\nInterestingly, adjusting sphingolipid metabolic pathways can repair neuronal defects, establishing a direct relationship between lipid metabolic homeostasis and neuronal preservation. In summary, this research reveals a PPAR{gamma}-like signaling pathway that integrates sphingolipid metabolism, organelle quality control, and neuronal homeostasis, offering a mechanistic understanding of how metabolic regulation supports neuroprotection.",
  "summary": "Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR{gamma}) is a central regulator of lipid metabolism and a critical mediator of neuroprotection, yet the mechanisms linking these functions remain unclear. Here, we identify the Caenorhabditis elegans nuclear receptor SEX-1 as a functional PPAR{gamma}-like regulator and define a pathway that coordinates lipid metabolism with mitochondrial…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}