Liliane Schoofs - Selected Publications#

H-index (web of science): 62
H-index (google scholar): 74
i10-index: 315
Promotor of PhD thesis: 51
Journal articles: 386

Numerous science outreach popular articles in local and international press.

1) Beets I, Zels S, Vandewyer E, Demeulemeester J, Caers J, Baytemur E, Schafer WR, Vértes PE, Mirabeau O, Schoofs L (2023)
System-wide mapping of neuropeptide-GPCR interactions in C. elegans. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.10.30.514428v1 CELL-REPORTS-D-22-05730, in revision.

2) Watteyne J, Peymen K, Van der Auwera P, Borghgraef C, Vandewyer E, Van Damme S, Rutten I, Lammertyn J, Jelier R, Schoofs L* and Beets I* (2020). Neuromedin U signaling regulates retrieval of learned salt avoidance in a C. elegans gustatory circuit.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS 11(1):2076. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15964-9 (*joint corresponding authors).

3) Peymen K., Watteyne J., Borghgraef C., Van Sinay E., Beets I.* and Schoofs L* (2019). Myoinhibitory peptide signaling modulates aversive gustatory learning in Caenorhabditis elegans.
PLOS GENETICS 15:e1007945. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1007945 (* joint corresponding authors).

(2) and (3) represent pioneering work on the neuromodulatory role of neuropeptides in aversive learning behaviour, showing that acquisition and recall of memory are controlled by distinct neuropeptides.

4) Van Sinay E, Mirabeau O, Depuydt G, Van Hiel B, Peymen K, Watteyne J, Zels S, Schoofs L* and Beets I* (2017). Evolutionarily conserved TRH neuropeptide pathway regulates growth in Caenorhabditis elegans. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES USA 114: E4065. doi:10.1073/pnas.1617392114 (* joint corresponding authors).

Our findings revisit longstanding assumptions in endocrinology textbooks by revealing an ancient origin of the TRH system that goes back to a common ancestor of bilaterian animals, and highlighting its conserved role as growth regulator.

5) International Glossina Genome Initiative (2014). Genome sequence of the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans: vector of African trypanosomiasis.
SCIENCE 344:380-386. doi: 10.1126/science.1249656.

This work is the result of ten years of work by 145 researchers to map the genome of the tsetse fly, the sole insect vector of a disease that threatens the health of millions of people and devastates livestock herds. Our contribution was on the tsetse fly’s neuropeptide and receptor genes. This study opens the way for more effective control of tsetse populations and eventually eradicating trypanosomiasis.

6) De Haes W, Frooninckx L, Van Assche R, Smolders A, Depuydt G, Billen J, Braeckman BP, Schoofs L and Temmerman L. (2014). Metformin promotes lifespan through mitohormesis via the peroxiredoxin PRDX-2. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES USA 111:E2501. doi:10.1073/pnas.1321776111.

This paper fills crucial gaps in our knowledge of lifespan extension relying on mild mitochondrial stress. The findings were covered broadly in (inter)national popular media (see lab website), led to invited speaker presentations and was recommended to Dr. James Watson by the discoverer of mitohormesis, Dr. Michael Ristow. Highlighted as significant literature in Science 344:6191.

7) Beets, I., Janssen, T., Meelkop, E., Temmerman, L., Suetens, N., Rademakers, S., Jansen, G., Schoofs, L. (2012). Vasopressin/Oxytocin-related signaling regulates gustatory associative learning in C. elegans.
SCIENCE 338 (6106), 543-545, doi: 10.1126/science.1226860.

This work provided firm grounds that neuropeptide signaling is evolutionary ancient not only for the control of physiology, but also of complex behaviors such as learning and memory. The paper provided firm evidence that vasopressin/oxytocin are evolutionarily ancient modulators of associative learning circuits. Highlighted in Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2012 Dec;13:816
8) - Hummon A, Richmond T, Verleyen P, Baggerman G, Huybrechts J, Ewing M, Vierstraete E, Rodriguez-Zas S, Schoofs L, Robinson G, Sweedler J(2006). From the genome to the proteome: Uncovering peptides in the Apis brain.
SCIENCE 314:647-649. doi:10.1126/science.1124128 (IF: 31.2; citations: 229).

9) Honeybee Genome Sequencing Consortium (2006). Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera.
NATURE 443:931-949. doi:10.1038/nature05260 (IF: 36.28; citations: 1225).

The work is one of the examples of several other genome project studies (Glossina morsitans, Tribolium, Acyrthosiphon pisum), for which our contributions were asked based on our expertise on neuropeptide-GPCR receptor signalling, and which were published in Science 314:647 and Nature 443:931. All attracted much attention with many news stories from different outlets.

10) Mertens I, Vandingenen A, Johnson E, Shafer O, Li W, Trigg J, De Loof A, Schoofs L and Taghert P (2005). PDF receptor signaling in Drosophila contributes to both circadian and geotactic behaviors.
NEURON 48:213-219. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.09.009 (IF: 14.3; citations : 223).