Development, Vol 126, Issue 10 2241-2251, Copyright © 1999 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

The C. elegans homeodomain gene unc-42 regulates chemosensory and glutamate receptor expression

R Baran, R Aronoff and G Garriga
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA.

Genes that specify cell fate can influence multiple aspects of neuronal differentiation, including axon guidance, target selection and synapse formation. Mutations in the unc-42 gene disrupt axon guidance along the C. elegans ventral nerve cord and cause distinct functional defects in sensory-locomotory neural circuits. Here we show that unc-42 encodes a novel homeodomain protein that specifies the fate of three classes of neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system: the ASH polymodal sensory neurons, the AVA, AVD and AVE interneurons that mediate repulsive sensory stimuli to the nematode head and anterior body, and a subset of motor neurons that innervate head and body-wall muscles. unc-42 is required for the expression of cell-surface receptors that are essential for the mature function of these neurons. In mutant animals, the ASH sensory neurons fail to express SRA-6 and SRB-6, putative chemosensory receptors. The AVA, AVD and AVE interneurons and RME and RMD motor neurons of unc-42 mutants similarly fail to express the GLR-1 glutamate receptor. These results show that unc-42 performs an essential role in defining neuron identity and contributes to the establishment of neural circuits in C. elegans by regulating the transcription of glutamate and chemosensory receptor genes.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Jovelin Rapid Sequence Evolution of Transcription Factors Controlling Neuron Differentiation in Caenorhabditis Mol. Biol. Evol., October 1, 2009; 26(10): 2373 - 2386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Vermeirssen, M. I. Barrasa, C. A. Hidalgo, J. A. B. Babon, R. Sequerra, L. Doucette-Stamm, A.-L. Barabasi, and A. J.M. Walhout Transcription factor modularity in a gene-centered C. elegans core neuronal protein-DNA interaction network Genome Res., July 1, 2007; 17(7): 1061 - 1071. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Bates, M. Victor, A. K. Jones, Y. Shi, and A. C. Hart Differential contributions of Caenorhabditis elegans histone deacetylases to huntingtin polyglutamine toxicity. J. Neurosci., March 8, 2006; 26(10): 2830 - 2838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Gleason, W. C. Lindsey, T. L. Kroft, A. W. Singson, and S. W. L'Hernault spe-10 Encodes a DHHC-CRD Zinc-Finger Membrane Protein Required for Endoplasmic Reticulum/Golgi Membrane Morphogenesis During Caenorhabditis elegans Spermatogenesis Genetics, January 1, 2006; 172(1): 145 - 158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Carnell, J. Illi, S. W. Hong, and S. L. McIntire The G-Protein-Coupled Serotonin Receptor SER-1 Regulates Egg Laying and Male Mating Behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., November 16, 2005; 25(46): 10671 - 10681. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Branicky and S. Hekimi Specification of muscle neurotransmitter sensitivity by a Paired-like homeodomain protein in Caenorhabditis elegans Development, November 15, 2005; 132(22): 4999 - 5009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. A. Bany, M.-Q. Dong, and M. R. Koelle Genetic and Cellular Basis for Acetylcholine Inhibition of Caenorhabditis elegans Egg-Laying Behavior J. Neurosci., September 3, 2003; 23(22): 8060 - 8069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.-d. Zhu and S. W. L'Hernault The Caenorhabditis elegans spe-39 Gene Is Required for Intracellular Membrane Reorganization During Spermatogenesis Genetics, September 1, 2003; 165(1): 145 - 157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Clark and C. Chiu C. elegans ZAG-1, a Zn-finger-homeodomain protein, regulates axonal development and neuronal differentiation Development, August 15, 2003; 130(16): 3781 - 3794. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Wacker, V. Schwarz, E. M. Hedgecock, and H. Hutter zag-1, a Zn-finger homeodomain transcription factor controlling neuronal differentiation and axon outgrowth in C. elegans Development, August 15, 2003; 130(16): 3795 - 3805. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Aurelio, T. Boulin, and O. Hobert Identification of spatial and temporal cues that regulate postembryonic expression of axon maintenance factors in the C. elegans ventral nerve cord Development, February 1, 2003; 130(3): 599 - 610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Nolan, T. R. Sarafi-Reinach, J. G. Horne, A. M. Saffer, and P. Sengupta The DAF-7 TGF-beta signaling pathway regulates chemosensory receptor gene expression in C. elegans Genes & Dev., December 1, 2002; 16(23): 3061 - 3073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. R. Sarafi-Reinach, T. Melkman, O. Hobert, and P. Sengupta The lin-11 LIM homeobox gene specifies olfactory and chemosensory neuron fates in C. elegans Development, September 1, 2001; 128(17): 3269 - 3281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Brockie, D. M. Madsen, Y. Zheng, J. Mellem, and A. V. Maricq Differential Expression of Glutamate Receptor Subunits in the Nervous System of Caenorhabditis elegans and Their Regulation by the Homeodomain Protein UNC-42 J. Neurosci., March 1, 2001; 21(5): 1510 - 1522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. R. Sarafi-Reinach and P. Sengupta The forkhead domain gene unc-130 generates chemosensory neuron diversity in C. elegans Genes & Dev., October 1, 2000; 14(19): 2472 - 2485. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N Pujol, P Torregrossa, J. Ewbank, and J. Brunet The homeodomain protein CePHOX2/CEH-17 controls antero-posterior axonal growth in C. elegans Development, January 8, 2000; 127(15): 3361 - 3371. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Much, D. Slade, K Klampert, G Garriga, and B Wightman The fax-1 nuclear hormone receptor regulates axon pathfinding and neurotransmitter expression Development, January 2, 2000; 127(4): 703 - 712. [Abstract] [PDF]