Isolation and characterization of a receptor candidate for L-DOPA in C.elegans

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We have identified a candidate receptor for L-DOPA (CeDOPAR) in C.elegans. CeDOPAR share homology with G protein-coupled receptor. In CeDOPAR-expressed Xenopus laevis oocyte, both L-DOPA (pM order) and L-theo-DOPS (mM order) induced inward current. DOPS-induced response was inhibited by DOPA-CHE, an antagonist for L-DOPA, The immunohistochemistry with specific antibody raised against CeDOPAR, suggests that CeDOPAR expression was regulated at different stages. In adult, CeDOPAR was localized near M1 that is thought to control pharyngeal pumping of the worm. On the dopa-containing agar plate, pumping rate of worm was significantly increased when compared that on control agar plate. RNAi for CeDOPAR suppressed the pumping response to DOPA, thereby indicating that CeDOPAR was a candidate receptor mediating the DOPA-induced behavior in nematode. We are now searching various ligands for CeDOPAR.