Nictation, a dispersal behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is regulated by IL2 neurons

Lee, Harksun; Choi, Myung Kyu; Lee, Daehan; Kim, Hye Sung; Hwang, Hye‐Jin; Kim, Heekyeong; Park, Sungsu; Paik, Young Ki; Lee, Jun-Ho

doi:10.1038/nn.2975

Cited by 165 publications

(229 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…We turned to the six IL2 sensory neurons that are involved in nictation behavior (Lee et al, 2012). The IL2 neurons express unc-86 throughout their lifetime and have been inferred to be cholinergic (Lee et al, 2012). We corroborated the cholinergic identity of the IL2s by finding that reporter fusions to the unc-17/cha-1 locus and to the choline reuptake transporter cho-1 are expressed in IL2 neurons (Fig.…”

Section: Both Ttx-3 and Unc-86 Single Mutants Also Show Defects In Domentioning

confidence: 65%

“…We asked whether unc-86 might affect the terminal differentiation program of neurons that use yet another neurotransmitter system. We turned to the six IL2 sensory neurons that are involved in nictation behavior (Lee et al, 2012). The IL2 neurons express unc-86 throughout their lifetime and have been inferred to be cholinergic (Lee et al, 2012).…”

Section: Both Ttx-3 and Unc-86 Single Mutants Also Show Defects In Domentioning

confidence: 99%

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The LIM and POU homeobox genes ttx-3 and unc-86 act as terminal selectors in distinct cholinergic and serotonergic neuron types

et al. 2014

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Transcription factors that drive neuron type-specific terminal differentiation programs in the developing nervous system are often expressed in several distinct neuronal cell types, but to what extent they have similar or distinct activities in individual neuronal cell types is generally not well explored. We investigate this problem using, as a starting point, the C. elegans LIM homeodomain transcription factor ttx-3, which acts as a terminal selector to drive the terminal differentiation program of the cholinergic AIY interneuron class. Using a panel of different terminal differentiation markers, including neurotransmitter synthesizing enzymes, neurotransmitter receptors and neuropeptides, we show that ttx-3 also controls the terminal differentiation program of two additional, distinct neuron types, namely the cholinergic AIA interneurons and the serotonergic NSM neurons. We show that the type of differentiation program that is controlled by ttx-3 in different neuron types is specified by a distinct set of collaborating transcription factors. One of the collaborating transcription factors is the POU homeobox gene unc-86, which collaborates with ttx-3 to determine the identity of the serotonergic NSM neurons. unc-86 in turn operates independently of ttx-3 in the anterior ganglion where it collaborates with the ARID-type transcription factor cfi-1 to determine the cholinergic identity of the IL2 sensory and URA motor neurons. In conclusion, transcription factors operate as terminal selectors in distinct combinations in different neuron types, defining neuron type-specific identity features.

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Section: Both Ttx-3 and Unc-86 Single Mutants Also Show Defects In Domentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Both Ttx-3 and Unc-86 Single Mutants Also Show Defects In Domentioning

confidence: 99%

The LIM and POU homeobox genes ttx-3 and unc-86 act as terminal selectors in distinct cholinergic and serotonergic neuron types

et al. 2014

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“…Although the existence of graviperception mechanisms in C. elegans has been reported (Beckingham et al, 2005), there is no information about where and how gravity is perceived in nematodes. Lee et al (Lee et al, 2012) found that nictation is regulated by IL2 neurons in C. elegans. Thus, IL2 neurons may be related to graviperception in nematodes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative gravitactic behavior ofCaenorhabditis japonicadauer larvae

Okumura

Tanaka

Yoshiga

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYGravity on Earth is a constant stimulus and many organisms are able to perceive and respond to it. However, there is no clear evidence that nematodes respond to gravity. In this study, we demonstrated negative gravitaxis in a nematode using dauer larvae (DL) of Caenorhabditis japonica, which form an association with their carrier insect Parastrachia japonensis. Caenorhabditis japonica DL demonstrating nictation, a typical host-finding behavior, had a negative gravitactic behavior, whereas non-nictating C. japonica and C. elegans DL did not. The negative gravitactic index of nictating DL collected from younger nematode cultures was higher than that from older cultures. After a 24h incubation in M9 buffer, nictating DL did not alter their negative gravitactic behavior, but a longer incubation resulted in less pronounced negative gravitaxis. These results are indicative of negative gravitaxis in nictating C. japonica DL, which is maintained once initiated, seems to be affected by the age of DL and does not appear to be a simple passive mechanism.Supplementary material available online at

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“…Nictation is thought to be a dispersal behavior unique to dauer larvae. Nictation cannot occur without a substrate such as mold or gauze and thus will not occur on standard, uncontaminated plates (Cassada and Russell, 1975; Lee et al, 2012). Dauer larvae on the surface of a plate are often quiescent, and can appear still and rodlike.…”

Section: Isolating Dauer Larvaementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dauer larvae on the surface of a plate are often quiescent, and can appear still and rodlike. They do however move quickly in response to stimuli (Cassada and Russell, 1975; Lee et al, 2012). …”

Section: Isolating Dauer Larvaementioning

confidence: 99%