RRC ID 45565
著者 Giles AC, Opperman KJ, Rankin CH, Grill B.
タイトル Developmental Function of the PHR Protein RPM-1 Is Required for Learning in Caenorhabditis elegans.
ジャーナル G3 (Bethesda)
Abstract The PAM/Highwire/RPM-1 (PHR) proteins are signaling hubs that function as important regulators of neural development. Loss of function in Caenorhabditis elegans rpm-1 and Drosophila Highwire results in failed axon termination, inappropriate axon targeting, and abnormal synapse formation. Despite broad expression in the nervous system and relatively dramatic defects in synapse formation and axon development, very mild abnormalities in behavior have been found in animals lacking PHR protein function. Therefore, we hypothesized that large defects in behavior might only be detected in scenarios in which evoked, prolonged circuit function is required, or in which behavioral plasticity occurs. Using quantitative approaches in C. elegans, we found that rpm-1 loss-of-function mutants have relatively mild abnormalities in exploratory locomotion, but have large defects in evoked responses to harsh touch and learning associated with tap habituation. We explored the nature of the severe habituation defects in rpm-1 mutants further. To address what part of the habituation circuit was impaired in rpm-1 mutants, we performed rescue analysis with promoters for different neurons. Our findings indicate that RPM-1 function in the mechanosensory neurons affects habituation. Transgenic expression of RPM-1 in adult animals failed to rescue habituation defects, consistent with developmental defects in rpm-1 mutants resulting in impaired habituation. Genetic analysis showed that other regulators of neuronal development that function in the rpm-1 pathway (including glo-4, fsn-1, and dlk-1) also affected habituation. Overall, our findings suggest that developmental defects in rpm-1 mutants manifest most prominently in behaviors that require protracted or plastic circuit function, such as learning.
巻・号 5(12)
ページ 2745-57
公開日 2015-10-13
DOI 10.1534/g3.115.021410
PII g3.115.021410
PMID 26464359
PMC PMC4683646
MeSH Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Behavior, Animal Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology* Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics* Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics* Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism Habituation, Psychophysiologic / genetics Locomotion / genetics Mechanotransduction, Cellular Mutation Neurons / physiology
IF 2.781
引用数 8
WOS 分野 GENETICS & HEREDITY
リソース情報
線虫 tm4024