Synaptic code for sensory modalities revealed by C. elegans GLR-1 glutamate receptor

Nature ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 378 (6552) ◽  
pp. 82-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne C. Hart ◽  
Shannon Sims ◽  
Joshua M. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Sensory Modalities

scholarly journals Polymodal Functionality of C. elegans OLL Neurons in Mechanosensation and Thermosensation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuedan Fan ◽  
Wenjuan Zou ◽  
Jia Liu ◽  
Umar Al-Sheikh ◽  
Hankui Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Cold Sensation ◽  
Cold Response ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Bona Fide

AbstractSensory modalities are important for survival but the molecular mechanisms remain challenging due to the polymodal functionality of sensory neurons. Here, we report the C. elegans outer labial lateral (OLL) sensilla sensory neurons respond to touch and cold. Mechanosensation of OLL neurons resulted in cell-autonomous mechanically-evoked Ca2+ transients and rapidly-adapting mechanoreceptor currents with a very short latency. Mechanotransduction of OLL neurons might be carried by a novel Na+ conductance channel, which is insensitive to amiloride. The bona fide mechano-gated Na+-selective degenerin/epithelial Na+ channels, TRP-4, TMC, and Piezo proteins are not involved in this mechanosensation. Interestingly, OLL neurons also mediated cold but not warm responses in a cell-autonomous manner. We further showed that the cold response of OLL neurons is not mediated by the cold receptor TRPA-1 or the temperature-sensitive glutamate receptor GLR-3. Thus, we propose the polymodal functionality of OLL neurons in mechanosensation and cold sensation.

scholarly journals More than meets the IR: the expanding roles of variant Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in sensing odor, taste, temperature and moisture

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena van Giesen ◽  
Paul A. Garrity
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Olfactory Receptors ◽  
Sensory Transduction ◽  
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Ionotropic Receptors ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Receptor Family

The ionotropic receptors (IRs) are a branch of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family and serve as important mediators of sensory transduction in invertebrates. Recent work shows that, though initially studied as olfactory receptors, the IRs also mediate the detection of taste, temperature, and humidity. Here, we summarize recent insights into IR evolution and its potential ecological significance as well as recent advances in our understanding of how IRs contribute to diverse sensory modalities.

Mechanosensory signalling in C. elegans mediated by the GLR-1 glutamate receptor

Nature ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 378 (6552) ◽  
pp. 78-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres V. Maricq ◽  
Erin Peckol ◽  
Monica Driscoll ◽  
Cornelia I. Bargmann
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
C Elegans

scholarly journals Erratum: Mechanosensory signalling in C. elegans mediated by the GLR-1 glutamate receptor

Nature ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 379 (6567) ◽  
pp. 749-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres V. Maricq ◽  
Erin Peckol ◽  
Monica Driscoll ◽  
Cornelia I. Bargmann
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
C Elegans

Xenon Acts by Inhibition of Non–N -methyl-d-aspartate Receptor–mediated Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans 

2005 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nagele ◽  
Laura B. Metz ◽  
C Michael Crowder
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Glutamatergic Transmission ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Aspartate Receptor ◽  
Nmda Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Response Transformation

Background Electrophysiologic experiments in rodents have found that nitrous oxide and xenon inhibit N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors. These findings led to the hypothesis that xenon and nitrous oxide along with ketamine form a class of anesthetics with the identical mechanism, NMDA receptor antagonism. Here, the authors ask in Caenorhabditis elegans whether xenon, like nitrous oxide, acts by a NMDA receptor-mediated mechanism. Methods Xenon:oxygen mixtures were delivered into sealed chambers until the desired concentration was achieved. The effects of xenon on various behaviors were measured on wild-type and mutant C. elegans strains. Results With an EC50 of 15-20 vol% depending on behavioral endpoint, xenon altered C. elegans locomotion in a manner indistinguishable from that of mutants in glutamatergic transmission. Xenon reduced the frequency and duration of backward locomotion without altering its speed or other behaviors tested. Mutation of glr-1, encoding a non-NMDA glutamate receptor subunit, abolished the behavioral effects of xenon; however, mutation of nmr-1, which encodes the pore-forming subunit of an NMDA glutamate receptor previously shown to be required for nitrous oxide action, did not significantly alter xenon response. Transformation of the glr-1 mutant with the wild-type glr-1 gene partially restored xenon sensitivity, confirming that glr-1 was necessary for the full action of xenon. Conclusions Xenon acts in C. elegans to alter locomotion through a mechanism requiring the non-NMDA glutamate receptor encoded by glr-1. Unlike for the action of nitrous oxide in C. elegans, the NMDA receptor encoded by nmr-1 is not essential for sensitivity to xenon.

scholarly journals GABAergic motor neurons bias locomotor decision-making in C. elegans

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Bojun Chen ◽  
Zhao-Wen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Gaba Receptor ◽  
Single Neuron ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Electrical Coupling ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Motor Information ◽  
Molecular Bases

Abstract Proper threat-reward decision-making is critical to animal survival. Emerging evidence indicates that the motor system may participate in decision-making but the neural circuit and molecular bases for these functions are little known. We found in C. elegans that GABAergic motor neurons (D-MNs) bias toward the reward behavior in threat-reward decision-making by retrogradely inhibiting a pair of premotor command interneurons, AVA, that control cholinergic motor neurons in the avoidance neural circuit. This function of D-MNs is mediated by a specific ionotropic GABA receptor (UNC-49) in AVA, and depends on electrical coupling between the two AVA interneurons. Our results suggest that AVA are hub neurons where sensory inputs from threat and reward sensory modalities and motor information from D-MNs are integrated. This study demonstrates at single-neuron resolution how motor neurons may help shape threat-reward choice behaviors through interacting with other neurons.

scholarly journals The C. elegans Glutamate Receptor Subunit NMR-1 Is Required for Slow NMDA-Activated Currents that Regulate Reversal Frequency during Locomotion

Neuron ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope J. Brockie ◽  
Jerry E. Mellem ◽  
Thomas Hills ◽  
David M. Madsen ◽  
Andres V. Maricq
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Receptor Subunit ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Glutamate Receptor Subunit ◽  
Reversal Frequency

scholarly journals Neuronal Control of Locomotion in C. elegans Is Modified by a Dominant Mutation in the GLR-1 Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor

Neuron ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zheng ◽  
Penelope J Brockie ◽  
Jerry E Mellem ◽  
David M Madsen ◽  
Andres V Maricq
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Dominant Mutation ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Neuronal Control

scholarly journals Neuroligin dependence of pharyngeal pumping reveals an extrapharyngeal modulation of Caenorhabditis elegans feeding

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Calahorro ◽  
Francesca Keefe ◽  
James Dillon ◽  
Lindy Holden-Dye ◽  
Vincent O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Body Wall ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Orthologous Gene ◽  
Sensory Cues ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Pharyngeal Pumping

ABSTRACTThe integration of distinct sensory modalities is essential for behavioural decision making. In C. elegans this process is coordinated by neural circuits that integrate sensory cues from the environment to generate an appropriate behaviour at the appropriate output muscles. Food is a multimodal cue that impacts on the microcircuits to modulating feeding and foraging drivers at the level of the pharyngeal and body wall muscle respectively. When food triggers an upregulation in pharyngeal pumping it allows the effective ingestion of food. Here we show that a C. elegans mutant in the single orthologous gene of human neuroligins, nlg-1 are defective in food induced pumping. This is not explained by an inability to sense food, as nlg-1 mutants are not defective in chemotaxis towards bacteria. In addition, we show that neuroligin is widely expressed in the nervous system including AIY, ADE, ALA, URX and HSN neurones. Interestingly, despite the deficit in pharyngeal pumping neuroligin is not expressed within the pharyngeal neuromuscular network, which suggests an extrapharyngeal regulation of this circuit. We resolve electrophysiologically the neuroligin contribution to the pharyngeal circuit by mimicking a food-dependent pumping, and show that the nlg-1 phenotype is similar to mutants impaired in GABAergic and/or glutamatergic signalling. We suggest that neuroligin organizes extrapharyngeal circuits that regulate the pharynx. These observations based on the molecular and cellular determinants of feeding are consistent with the emerging role of neuroligin in discretely impacting functional circuits underpinning complex behaviours.

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