In vivo imaging of C. elegans ASH neurons: cellular response and adaptation to chemical repellents

AUTOR(ES)

Hilliard, Massimo A

FONTE

Nature Publishing Group

RESUMO

ASH sensory neurons are required in Caenorhabditis elegans for a wide range of avoidance behaviors in response to chemical repellents, high osmotic solutions and nose touch. The ASH neurons are therefore hypothesized to be polymodal nociceptive neurons. To understand the nature of polymodal sensory response and adaptation at the cellular level, we expressed the calcium indicator protein cameleon in ASH and analyzed intracellular Ca2+ responses following stimulation with chemical repellents, osmotic shock and nose touch. We found that a variety of noxious stimuli evoked strong responses in ASH including quinine, denatonium, detergents, heavy metals, both hyper- and hypo-osmotic shock and nose touch. We observed that repeated chemical stimulation led to a reversible reduction in the magnitude of the sensory response, indicating that adaptation occurs within the ASH sensory neuron. A key component of ASH adaptation is GPC-1, a G-protein γ-subunit expressed specifically in chemosensory neurons. We hypothesize that G-protein γ-subunit heterogeneity provides a mechanism for repellent-specific adaptation, which could facilitate discrimination of a variety of repellents by these polymodal sensory neurons.

Documentos Relacionados

• An imaging system for standardized quantitative analysis of C. elegans behavior
• SKN-1 links C. elegans mesendodermal specification to a conserved oxidative stress response
• A transcriptional regulatory cascade that controls left/right asymmetry in chemosensory neurons of C. elegans
• Identification of C. elegans DAF-12-binding sites, response elements, and target genes
• Biotransformation of bromhexine by Cunninghamella elegans, C. echinulata and C. blakesleeana