Abstract
PROCESSING and storage of information by the nervous system requires the ability to modulate the response of excitable cells to neurotransmitter. A simple process of this type, known as adaptation or desensitization, occurs when prolonged stimulation triggers processes that attenuate the response to neurotransmitter. Here we report that the Caenorhabditis elegans gene unc-2 is required for adaptation to two neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin. A loss-of-function mutation in unc-2 resulted in failure to adapt either to paralysis by dopamine or to stimulation of egg laying by serotonin. In addition, unc-2 mutants displayed behaviours similar to those induced by serotonin treatment. We found that unc-2 encodes a homologue of a voltage-sensitive calcium-channel α-1 subunit. Expression of unc-2 occurs in two types of neurons implicated in the control of egg laying, a behaviour regulated by serotonin. Unc-2 appears to be required in modulatory neurons to downregulate the response of the egg-laying muscles to serotonin. We propose that adaptation to serotonin occurs through activation of an Unc-2-dependent calcium influx, which modulates the post-synaptic response to serotonin, perhaps by inhibiting the release of a potentiating neuropeptide.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sulston, J., Dew, M. & Brenner, S. J. comp. Neurol. 163, 215–226 (1975).
Horvitz, H. R., Chalfie, M., Trent, C., Sulston, J. & Evans, P. D. Science 216, 1012–1014 (1982).
Avery, L. & Horvitz, H. R. J. exp. Zool. 253, 263–270 (1990).
Loer, C. M. & Kenyon, C. J. J. Neurosci. 13, 5407–5417 (1993).
Desai, C., Garriga, G., Mclntire, S. & Horvitz, H. R. Nature 336, 638–646 (1988).
Brenner, S. Genetics 77, 71–94 (1974).
Avery, L. Genetics 133, 897–917 (1993).
Snutch, T. P., Tomlinson, W. J., Leonard, J. P. & Gilbert, M. M. Neuron 7, 45 (1991).
Starr, T. V. B., Prystay, W. & Snutch, T. P. Proc. natn. acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 5621 (1991).
Dubel, S. J. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 5058–5062 (1992).
Soong, T. W. et al. Science 260, 1133–1136 (1993).
Hofmann, F., Biel, M. & Flockerzi, V. A. Rev. Neurosci. 17, 399–418 (1994).
White, J., Southgate, E., Thomson, N. & Brenner, S. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B314, 1–340 (1986).
Trent, C., Tsung, N. & Horvitz, H. R. Genetics 104, 619–647 (1983).
Schinkmann, K. & Li, C. J. comp. Neurol. 316, 251–260 (1992).
Herman, R. K. Genetics 108, 165–180 (1984).
Yandell, M. D., Edgar, L. G. & Wood, W. B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 1381–1385 (1994).
Albertson, D. G. Genetics 134, 211–219 (1993).
Zhao, C. & Emmons, S. W. Nature 373, 74–78 (1995).
Seydoux, G. & Fire, A. Development 120, 2823–2834 (1994).
Seydoux, G. & Fire, A. Meth. Cell Biol. (in the press).
Sulston, J. E., Schierenberg, E., White, J. G. & Thomson, J. N. Devl Biol. 100, 64–119 (1983).
Akerib, C. C. & Meyer, B. Genetics 138, 1105–1125 (1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schafer, W., Kenyon, C. A calcium-channel homologue required for adaptation to dopamine and serotonin in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 375, 73–78 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/375073a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/375073a0
This article is cited by
-
The transcription factor unc-130/FOXD3/4 contributes to the biphasic calcium response required to optimize avoidance behavior
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
BTBD9 and dopaminergic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome
Brain Structure and Function (2020)
-
Active propagation of dendritic electrical signals in C. elegans
Scientific Reports (2019)
-
A behavior-based drug screening system using a Caenorhabditis elegans model of motor neuron disease
Scientific Reports (2019)
-
AIP limits neurotransmitter release by inhibiting calcium bursts from the ryanodine receptor
Nature Communications (2017)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.