RRC ID 46300
Author Cohen E, Yemini E, Schafer W, Feitelson DG, Treinin M.
Title Locomotion analysis identifies roles of mechanosensory neurons in governing locomotion dynamics of C. elegans.
Journal J Exp Biol
Abstract The simple and well-characterized nervous system of C. elegans facilitates the analysis of mechanisms controlling behavior. Locomotion is a major behavioral output governed by multiple external and internal signals. Here, we examined the roles of low- and high-threshold mechanosensors in locomotion, using high-resolution and detailed analysis of locomotion and its dynamics. This analysis revealed a new role for touch receptor neurons in suppressing an intrinsic direction bias of locomotion. We also examined the response to noxious mechanical stimuli, which was found to involve several locomotion properties and to last several minutes. Effects on different locomotion properties have different half-lives and depend on different, partly overlapping sets of sensory neurons. PVD and FLP, high-threshold mechanosensors, play a major role in some of these responses. Overall, our results demonstrate the power of detailed, prolonged and high-resolution analysis of locomotion and locomotion dynamics in enabling better understanding of gene and neuron function.
Volume 215(Pt 20)
Pages 3639-48
Published 2012-10-15
DOI 10.1242/jeb.075416
PII jeb.075416
PMID 22811252
MeSH Animals Behavior, Animal / physiology Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology* Locomotion Mechanotransduction, Cellular* Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology*
IF 3.014
Times Cited 12
WOS Category BIOLOGY
Resource
C.elegans tm1552