Neuropeptide G-protein-coupled receptors, their cognate ligands and behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Despite a simple nervous system, the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits complex behaviors. The identification of peptide ligands for a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) has provided insight into the neuronal circuitry involved in the regulation of feeding behavior in this worm. Progress in this regard has been accelerated by the discovery that functional expression of worm GPCRs in mammalian cells can be highly temperature dependent. Gene silencing and behavioral analysis has further identified several putative peptide GPCRs that are implicated in reproduction and locomotion. These studies suggest that these peptide GPCRs are legitimate targets for the discovery of novel anthelmintic agents.