RRC ID 76051
Author Sando SR, Bhatla N, Lee EL, Horvitz HR.
Title An hourglass circuit motif transforms a motor program via subcellularly localized muscle calcium signaling and contraction.
Journal Elife
Abstract Neural control of muscle function is fundamental to animal behavior. Many muscles can generate multiple distinct behaviors. Nonetheless, individual muscle cells are generally regarded as the smallest units of motor control. We report that muscle cells can alter behavior by contracting subcellularly. We previously discovered that noxious tastes reverse the net flow of particles through the C. elegans pharynx, a neuromuscular pump, resulting in spitting. We now show that spitting results from the subcellular contraction of the anterior region of the pm3 muscle cell. Subcellularly localized calcium increases accompany this contraction. Spitting is controlled by an 'hourglass' circuit motif: parallel neural pathways converge onto a single motor neuron that differentially controls multiple muscles and the critical subcellular muscle compartment. We conclude that subcellular muscle units enable modulatory motor control and propose that subcellular muscle contraction is a fundamental mechanism by which neurons can reshape behavior.
Volume 10
Published 2021-7-2
DOI 10.7554/eLife.59341
PII 59341
PMID 34212858
PMC PMC8331187
MeSH Animals Biochemical Phenomena Caenorhabditis elegans Calcium / metabolism Calcium Signaling / physiology* Light Motor Neurons / physiology Muscle Cells / physiology* Muscle Contraction / physiology* Neural Pathways Pharynx
Resource
C.elegans tm6169