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PMID: 8901627 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

A genetic selection for Caenorhabditis elegans synaptic transmission mutants.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America ·Vol. 93 ·No. 22 ·1996-10-29 ·Pages 12593-8

Miller KG, Alfonso A, Nguyen M, Crowell JA, Johnson CD, Rand JB

Abstract

We have isolated 165 Caenorhabditis elegans mutants, representing 21 genes, that are resistant to inhibitors of cholinesterase (Ric mutants). Since mutations in 20 of the genes appear not to affect acetylcholine reception, we suggest that reduced acetylcholine release contributes to the Ric phenotype of most Ric mutants. Mutations in 15 of the genes lead to defects in a gamma-aminobutyric acid-dependent behavior; these genes are likely to encode proteins with general, rather than cholinergic-specific, roles in synaptic transmission. Ten of the genes have been cloned. Seven encode homologs of proteins that function in the synaptic vesicle cycle: two encode cholinergic-specific proteins, while five encode general presynaptic proteins. Two other Ric genes encode homologs of G-protein signaling molecules. Our assessment of synaptic function in Ric mutants, combined with the homologies of some Ric mutants to presynaptic proteins, suggests that the analysis of Ric genes will continue to yield insights into the regulation and functioning of synapses.

MeSH Terms
Acetylcholine/metabolism Aldicarb/pharmacology Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects,genetics Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology Helminth Proteins/genetics Levamisole/pharmacology Mutagenesis Phenotype Receptors, Cholinergic/metabolism Signal Transduction Synaptic Transmission/drug effects,genetics gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism
Chemicals
Cholinesterase Inhibitors Helminth Proteins Receptors, Cholinergic Levamisole gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Aldicarb Acetylcholine
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Miller K G
Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Alfonso A
Nguyen M
Crowell J A
Johnson C D
Rand J B
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Article Info
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbr.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN
0027-8424
DOI
10.1073/pnas.93.22.12593
Published
1996-10-29
Pages
12593-8
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7505876
PMCID
PMC38037
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM059642 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1073/pnas.93.22.12593 PMC Full Text View journal details
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