CCAR-1 has a novel role in regulating the Caenorhabditis elegans germline

The Cell Division Cycle and Apoptosis Regulator (CCAR) protein family members are putative transcription regulators that have been characterized for modulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, metabolism, and the heat shock response. Mammals have two CCAR family members, CCAR1 and CCAR2/DBC1, that evolved from the founding family member CCAR-1 that is expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans . Mammalian CCAR2, the most well-studied family member, has been shown to regulate genes involved in metabolism in cultured cells. However, the regulation of gene expression by CCAR family members at an organismal level is unknown. Here, we use whole transcriptome RNA sequencing to examine the effects of CCAR-1 on gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that CCAR-1 regulates germline transcription, reproduction, lifespan, and DNA-damage induced apoptosis. This study shows the role of CCAR-1 in vital physiological functions in the C. elegans germline that have not been investigated before.