The teneurin TEN-1 and its ligand LRON-11 support microbiota-induced neuroprotection and mechanosensory function in C. elegans.

The TEN-1 and LRON-11 receptor-ligand pair are essential for microbiota-induced neuroprotection and touch function in C. elegans, with a critical interaction interface revealed by cryo-EM.

• Why it matters: Understanding how microbiota influence neuronal health is vital for developing strategies to prevent neurodegeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Researchers identified LRON-11 as the ligand for TEN-1 through structural analysis and genetic experiments, demonstrating their necessity for neuroprotection and mechanosensory responses in C. elegans.
• The result: Disrupting the TEN-1-LRON-11 interaction impairs neuroprotection and touch responses, highlighting a conserved signaling pathway that links microbiota to neuronal function and offering potential targets for neuroprotective therapies.