Molecular physiology of the neural circuit for calcineurin-dependent associative learning in Caenorhabditis elegans
Molecular physiology of the neural circuit for calcineurin-dependent associative learning in Caenorhabditis elegans
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DOI：
10.1523/jneurosci.0517-06.2006
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发表时间：
2006-09-13
影响因子：
5.3
通讯作者：
Mori, Ikue
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kuhara, Atsushi;Mori, Ikue
学习和记忆如何在神经回路水平上被控制是神经科学中的一个基本问题。然而，在高等动物中，学习和记忆的神经回路的分子和细胞解剖是极其复杂的。在这里，我们报告了一个简单的神经回路的学习行为在秀丽隐杆线虫，钙激活磷酸酶，钙调神经磷酸酶，作为一个重要的调制器。钙调神经磷酸酶突变体tax-6对温度和盐的摄食状态依赖性学习行为有缺陷。令人惊讶的是，温度和进食状态之间有缺陷的联想学习是由成熟神经系统中两对直接连接的中间神经元AIZ和RIA的功能障碍引起的。监测温度引起的Ca 2+浓度变化的AIZ-RIA神经通路显示，饥饿，一个条件反射因子，下调AIZ活性通过钙调神经磷酸酶在温度和进食状态之间的关联学习。我们的研究结果证明了钙调神经磷酸酶介导的联想学习行为的简单神经回路的分子和生理机制。
How learning and memory is controlled at the neural circuit level is a fundamental question in neuroscience. However, molecular and cellular dissection of the neural circuits underlying learning and memory is extremely complicated in higher animals. Here, we report a simple neural circuit for learning behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans, where the calcium-activated phosphatase, calcineurin, acts as an essential modulator. The calcineurin mutant tax-6 showed defective feeding state-dependent learning behavior for temperature and salt. Surprisingly, defective associative learning between temperature and feeding state was caused by malfunctions of two pairs of directly connected interneurons, AIZ and RIA, in the mature nervous system. Monitoring temperature-evoked Ca2+ concentration changes in the AIZ-RIA neural pathway revealed that starvation, a conditioning factor, downregulated AIZ activity through calcineurin during associative learning between temperature and feeding state. Our results demonstrate the molecular and physiological mechanisms of a simple neural circuit for calcineurin-mediated associative learning behavior.