Background and Goals
Across the animal kingdom, many species lower their body temperature and enter a dormant state to survive periods of limited energy availability. In medicine, controlled cooling similarly induces a metabolically suppressed state that protects tissues, enabling successful organ preservation for transplantation and improving outcomes for trauma patients.
To elucidate how cold induces cells to enter dormancy, we use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans use a model system. This model has been instrumental in revealing fundamental biological mechanisms, ranging from apoptosis to RNA interference. When exposed to severe cold, C. elegans enter a hibernation-like state, and some mechanisms that promote cold survival in nematodes are conserved in mammals [1–3].
In this project, you will investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable animals to withstand cold. Key questions include:
- Which molecular pathways are essential for survival in the cold, and why?
- Do these pathways act in specific tissues or cell types?
- Is the cytoprotective function of these pathways conserved in human cells?
- Can ectopic activation of these pathways preserve cells in other physiological contexts, such as during aging?
By addressing these questions, this project aims to deepen our understanding of cold-induced cellular protection and explore its potential relevance for human health and longevity.
Methods
The student will learn fundamentals of C. elegans and bacterial culture, mammalian cell culture, molecular genetics, light and fluorescence microscopy, microinjection, and genome engeneering.
Contact Person
Dr. Pooja Kumari; pooja.kumari@ibv.uio.no
References
1. Engelfriet, M.L., et al., Reprograming gene expression in 'hibernating' C. elegans involves the IRE-1/XBP-1 pathway. Elife, 2025. 13.
2. Pekec, T., et al., Ferritin-mediated iron detoxification promotes hypothermia survival in Caenorhabditis elegans and murine neurons. Nat Commun, 2022. 13(1): p. 4883.
3. Habacher, C., et al., Ribonuclease-Mediated Control of Body Fat. Dev Cell, 2016. 39(3): p. 359-369.