Molecular Biological Analyses of the Neural Functions of the Nematode C. elegans

本研究利用线虫C.优雅(a)1类flr基因编码离子通道、蛋白激酶和激酶样分子，与氟离子抗性、生长速率、排便周期和感觉信号处理有关。在这项研究中，我们表明，它们构成了一个调节系统，在肠道中发挥作用，并调节许多与食物相关的功能。flr-2基因位于调控系统的下游，编码一种在某些神经元中表达的分泌蛋白。(b)sdf-13基因，这是确定的合成dauer组成型突变，编码的转录因子同源的哺乳动物Tbx 2和所需的适应某些气味的趋化性。(c)ut 236突变的基因，赋予偏好的铜离子对气味的趋化性，编码一种分泌蛋白具有LDLa域和所需的正常联想学习。ut 235突变体对铜离子的回避反应出现异常，表现为饥饿使铜离子回避反应不敏感。(d)的che-2基因，这是所需的感觉纤毛的延伸，编码一种新的蛋白质，具有WD 40重复，并定位于纤毛。使用che-2克隆，我们成功地恢复了che-2突变体中感觉神经元亚群或任何发育阶段的che-2功能。这个实验揭示了感觉纤毛的动态性质。所有这些研究都表明，可以通过分子生物学方法在分子和细胞水平上分析行为，并且这些研究会导致新的发现。

We studied the genetic basis of behavior by molecular biological methods, using the nematode C. elegans. (a) The class 1 flr genes, which are related to resistance to fluoride ion, growth rates, defecation cycle periods and the processing of sensory signals, encode an ion channel, a protein kinase and a kinase-like molecule. In this study we showed that they constitute a regulatory system that acts in the intestine and that regulates many food-related functions. The flr-2 gene, which is located in the downstream of the regulatory system, encoded a secretary protein expressed in certain neurons. (b) The sdf-13 gene, which is identified by synthetic dauer-constitutive mutations, encoded a transcriptional factor homologous to the mammalian Tbx2 and was required for the adaptation of chemotaxis to certain odorants. (c) The gene for the ut236 mutation, which confers preference of copper ion over chemotaxis to odorants, encoded a secretory protein having an LDLa domain and was required for normal associative learning. The ut235 mutant had abnormality in the response in which starvation desensitizes the avoidance of copper ion. (d) The che-2 gene, which is required for the extension of sensory cilia, encoded a novel protein that has WD40 repeats and that is localized at cilia. Using the che-2 clone, we succeeded in restoring the che-2 function in a subset of sensory neurons or at any stage of development in che-2 mutants. This experiment revealed a dynamic nature of sensory cilia. All these studies demonstrated that behavior can be analyzed at molecular and cellular levels by molecular biological methods and that such studies lead to new discoveries.