QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Walthall, W. W. Articles by Plunkett, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Walthall, W. W. Articles by Plunkett, J. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 15, 1035-1043, Copyright © 1995 by Society for Neuroscience

ARTICLE

Genetic transformation of the synaptic pattern of a motoneuron class in Caenorhabditis elegans

WW Walthall and JA Plunkett
Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30302-4010.

Caenorhabditis elegans possesses two classes of inhibitory locomotory neurons, the DD and VD motoneurons (mns), and they form complementary components of a cross-inhibitory neuronal network innervating dorsal and ventral body muscles. The DD and VD mns (collectively called the D mns) share a number of morphological and neurochemical features, and mutations in a number of different genes disrupt both cell types in identical ways; however, the DD and VD mns have different lineal origins and different synaptic patterns. Given the number of phenotypic features shared by the D mns, it was of interest to determine what is responsible for the synaptic patterns that distinguish them. An analysis of the locomotory defect along with a genetic epistasis test suggested that unc-55 mutations alter the function of the VD but not the DD mns. Correlated with the defective locomotory behavior of unc-55 mutants was an alteration in the distribution of varicosities, structures associated with presynaptic elements, on the VD mns. The pattern of varicosities of the unc-55 VD mns resembled that of the wild- type DD mns. Moreover, the selective removal of the DD mns revealed that unc-55 VD mns had adopted a functional role appropriate for the DD mns. Thus, unc-55 appears to be involved in producing the synaptic patterns that distinguish the two D mn classes from one another; when the gene is mutated the VD and DD mns become structurally similar and functionally equivalent.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Melkman and P. Sengupta Regulation of chemosensory and GABAergic motor neuron development by the C. elegans Aristaless/Arx homolog alr-1 Development, April 15, 2005; 132(8): 1935 - 1949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Sluder, S. W. Mathews, D. Hough, V. P. Yin, and C. V. Maina The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily Has Undergone Extensive Proliferation and Diversification in Nematodes Genome Res., February 1, 1999; 9(2): 103 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. M. Zhou and W. W. Walthall UNC-55, an Orphan Nuclear Hormone Receptor, Orchestrates Synaptic Specificity among Two Classes of Motor Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., December 15, 1998; 18(24): 10438 - 10444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-C. Tiveron, M.-R. Hirsch, and J.-F. Brunet The Expression Pattern of the Transcription Factor Phox2 Delineates Synaptic Pathways of the Autonomic Nervous System J. Neurosci., December 1, 1996; 16(23): 7649 - 7660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help