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McMillen A, Chew Y. Neural mechanisms of dopamine function in learning and memory in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neuronal Signal 2024; 8:NS20230057. [PMID: 38572143 PMCID: PMC10987485 DOI: 10.1042/ns20230057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Research into learning and memory over the past decades has revealed key neurotransmitters that regulate these processes, many of which are evolutionarily conserved across diverse species. The monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine is one example of this, with countless studies demonstrating its importance in regulating behavioural plasticity. However, dopaminergic neural networks in the mammalian brain consist of hundreds or thousands of neurons, and thus cannot be studied at the level of single neurons acting within defined neural circuits. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has an experimentally tractable nervous system with a completely characterized synaptic connectome. This makes it an advantageous system to undertake mechanistic studies into how dopamine encodes lasting yet flexible behavioural plasticity in the nervous system. In this review, we synthesize the research to date exploring the importance of dopaminergic signalling in learning, memory formation, and forgetting, focusing on research in C. elegans. We also explore the potential for dopamine-specific fluorescent biosensors in C. elegans to visualize dopaminergic neural circuits during learning and memory formation in real-time. We propose that the use of these sensors in C. elegans, in combination with optogenetic and other light-based approaches, will further illuminate the detailed spatiotemporal requirements for encoding behavioural plasticity in an accessible experimental system. Understanding the key molecules and circuit mechanisms that regulate learning and forgetting in more compact invertebrate nervous systems may reveal new druggable targets for enhancing memory storage and delaying memory loss in bigger brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna McMillen
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia
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Salgueiro WG, Soares MV, Martins CF, Paula FR, Rios-Anjos RM, Carrazoni T, Mori MA, Müller RU, Aschner M, Dal Belo CA, Ávila DS. Dopaminergic modulation by quercetin: In silico and in vivo evidence using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 382:110610. [PMID: 37348670 PMCID: PMC10527449 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Quercetin is a flavonol widely distributed in plants and has various described biological functions. Several studies have reported on its ability to restore neuronal function in a wide variety of disease models, including animal models of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Quercetin per se can act as a neuroprotector/neuromodulator, especially in diseases related to impaired dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, little is known about how quercetin interacts with the dopaminergic machinery. Here we employed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to study this putative interaction. After observing behavioral modulation, mutant analysis and gene expression in C. elegans upon exposure to quercetin at a concentration that does not protect against MPTP, we constructed a homology-based dopamine transporter protein model to conduct a docking study. This led to suggestive evidence on how quercetin may act as a dopaminergic modulator by interacting with C. elegans' dopamine transporter and alter the nematode's exploratory behavior. Consistent with this model, quercetin controls C. elegans behavior in a way dependent on the presence of both the dopamine transporter (dat-1), which is up-regulated upon quercetin exposure, and the dopamine receptor 2 (dop-2), which appears to be mandatory for dat-1 up-regulation. Our data propose an interaction with the dopaminergic machinery that may help to establish the effects of quercetin as a neuromodulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willian Goulart Salgueiro
- Research Group in Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans (GBToxCe), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato Avenue, 255, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50931, Germany; Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcell Valandro Soares
- Research Group in Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans (GBToxCe), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Post-graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Cassiano Fiad Martins
- Research Group in Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans (GBToxCe), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | - Fávero Reisdorfer Paula
- Laboratory for Development and Quality Control in Medicines (LDCQ), Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Thiago Carrazoni
- Neurobiology and Toxinology Laboratory, (LANETOX), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97300-000, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato Avenue, 255, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Experimental Medicine Research Cluster, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Roman-Ulrich Müller
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50931, Germany; Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Cháriston André Dal Belo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Post-graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Neurobiology and Toxinology Laboratory, (LANETOX), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97300-000, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil; Multidisciplinar Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Angelica Street, 100- CEP 06110295, Osasco, SP, Brazil
| | - Daiana Silva Ávila
- Research Group in Biochemistry and Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans (GBToxCe), Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, CEP 97500-970, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Post-graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Rosikon KD, Bone MC, Lawal HO. Regulation and modulation of biogenic amine neurotransmission in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Physiol 2023; 14:970405. [PMID: 36875033 PMCID: PMC9978017 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.970405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitters are crucial for the relay of signals between neurons and their target. Monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and histamine are found in both invertebrates and mammals and are known to control key physiological aspects in health and disease. Others, such as octopamine (OA) and tyramine (TA), are abundant in invertebrates. TA is expressed in both Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster and plays important roles in the regulation of essential life functions in each organism. OA and TA are thought to act as the mammalian homologs of epinephrine and norepinephrine respectively, and when triggered, they act in response to the various stressors in the fight-or-flight response. 5-HT regulates a wide range of behaviors in C. elegans including egg-laying, male mating, locomotion, and pharyngeal pumping. 5-HT acts predominantly through its receptors, of which various classes have been described in both flies and worms. The adult brain of Drosophila is composed of approximately 80 serotonergic neurons, which are involved in modulation of circadian rhythm, feeding, aggression, and long-term memory formation. DA is a major monoamine neurotransmitter that mediates a variety of critical organismal functions and is essential for synaptic transmission in invertebrates as it is in mammals, in which it is also a precursor for the synthesis of adrenaline and noradrenaline. In C. elegans and Drosophila as in mammals, DA receptors play critical roles and are generally grouped into two classes, D1-like and D2-like based on their predicted coupling to downstream G proteins. Drosophila uses histamine as a neurotransmitter in photoreceptors as well as a small number of neurons in the CNS. C. elegans does not use histamine as a neurotransmitter. Here, we review the comprehensive set of known amine neurotransmitters found in invertebrates, and discuss their biological and modulatory functions using the vast literature on both Drosophila and C. elegans. We also suggest the potential interactions between aminergic neurotransmitters systems in the modulation of neurophysiological activity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna D Rosikon
- Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States
| | - Megan C Bone
- Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States
| | - Hakeem O Lawal
- Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, United States
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Pandey P, Kaur G, Babu K. Crosstalk between neurons and glia through G-protein coupled receptors: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 193:119-144. [PMID: 36357074 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The past decades have witnessed a dogmatic shift from glia as supporting cells in the nervous system to their active roles in neurocentric functions. Neurons and glia communicate and show bidirectional responses through tripartite synapses. Studies across species indicate that neurotransmitters released by neurons are perceived by glial receptors, which allow for gliotransmitter release. These gliotransmitters can result in activation of neurons via neuronal GPCR receptors. However, studies of these molecular interactions are in their infancy. Caenorhabditis elegans has a conserved neuron-glia architectural repertoire with molecular and functional resemblance to mammals. Further, glia in C. elegans can be manipulated through ablation and mutations allowing for deciphering of glial dependent processes in vivo at single glial resolutions. Here, we will review recent findings from vertebrate and invertebrate organisms with a focus on how C. elegans can be used to advance our understanding of neuron-glia interactions through GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Pandey
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, Punjab, India.
| | - Gazaldeep Kaur
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Kavita Babu
- Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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Albrecht PA, Fernandez-Hubeid LE, Deza-Ponzio R, Martins AC, Aschner M, Virgolini MB. Developmental lead exposure affects dopaminergic neuron morphology and modifies basal slowing response in Caenorhabditis elegans: effects of ethanol. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:349-359. [PMID: 35724878 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) and ethanol (EtOH) are neurotoxicants that affect the dopaminergic (DAergic) system. We first sought to assess the morphology of the DAergic neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans BY200 strain. The results demonstrated dose-dependent damage in these neurons induced by developmental Pb exposure. Secondly, transgenic worms exposed to 24μM Pb and administered with 200mM EtOH were evaluated in the basal slowing response (BSR). Pb induced impairment in the BSR in the wild-type strain that did not improve in response to EtOH, an effect also observed in strains that lack the DOP-1, DOP-2, and DOP-3 receptors. The animals that overexpress tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), or lack the vesicular transport (VMAT) showed a Pb-induced impairment in the BSR that seemed to improve after EtOH. Interestingly, a dramatic impairment in the BSR was observed in the Pb group in strains lacking the DOP-4 receptor, resembling the response of the TH-deficient strain, an effect that in both cases showed a non-significant reversal by EtOH. These results suggest that the facilitatory effect of EtOH on the impaired BSR observed in Pb-exposed null mutant strains may be the result of a compensatory effect in the altered DAergic synapse present in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Albrecht
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucia E Fernandez-Hubeid
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Romina Deza-Ponzio
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Airton C Martins
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Miriam B Virgolini
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Formisano R, Rosikon KD, Singh A, Dhillon HS. The dopamine membrane transporter plays an active modulatory role in synaptic dopamine homeostasis. J Neurosci Res 2021; 100:1551-1559. [PMID: 34747520 PMCID: PMC9079189 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Modulatory mechanisms of neurotransmitter release and clearance are highly controlled processes whose finely tuned regulation is critical for functioning of the nervous system. Dysregulation of the monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine can lead to several neuropathies. Synaptic modulation of dopamine is known to involve pre-synaptic D2 auto-receptors and acid sensing ion channels. In addition, the dopamine membrane transporter (DAT), which is responsible for clearance of dopamine from the synaptic cleft, is suspected to play an active role in modulating release of dopamine. Using functional imaging on the Caenorhabditis elegans model system, we show that DAT-1 acts as a negative feedback modulator to neurotransmitter vesicle fusion. Results from our fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP) based experiments were followed up with and reaffirmed using swimming-induced paralysis behavioral assays. Utilizing our numerical FRAP data we have developed a mechanistic model to dissect the dynamics of synaptic vesicle fusion, and compare the feedback effects of DAT-1 with the dopamine auto-receptor. Our experimental results and the mechanistic model are of potential broader significance, as similar dynamics are likely to be used by other synaptic modulators including membrane transporters for other neurotransmitters across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Formisano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Katarzyna D Rosikon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Data Sciences Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Harbinder S Dhillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA
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7
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Rahmani A, Chew YL. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory using Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurochem 2021; 159:417-451. [PMID: 34528252 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Learning is an essential biological process for survival since it facilitates behavioural plasticity in response to environmental changes. This process is mediated by a wide variety of genes, mostly expressed in the nervous system. Many studies have extensively explored the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. This review will focus on the advances gained through the study of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans provides an excellent system to study learning because of its genetic tractability, in addition to its invariant, compact nervous system (~300 neurons) that is well-characterised at the structural level. Importantly, despite its compact nature, the nematode nervous system possesses a high level of conservation with mammalian systems. These features allow the study of genes within specific sensory-, inter- and motor neurons, facilitating the interrogation of signalling pathways that mediate learning via defined neural circuits. This review will detail how learning and memory can be studied in C. elegans through behavioural paradigms that target distinct sensory modalities. We will also summarise recent studies describing mechanisms through which key molecular and cellular pathways are proposed to affect associative and non-associative forms of learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aelon Rahmani
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Pandey P, Singh A, Kaur H, Ghosh-Roy A, Babu K. Increased dopaminergic neurotransmission results in ethanol dependent sedative behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009346. [PMID: 33524034 PMCID: PMC7877767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethanol is a widely used drug, excessive consumption of which could lead to medical conditions with diverse symptoms. Ethanol abuse causes dysfunction of memory, attention, speech and locomotion across species. Dopamine signaling plays an essential role in ethanol dependent behaviors in animals ranging from C. elegans to humans. We devised an ethanol dependent assay in which mutants in the dopamine autoreceptor, dop-2, displayed a unique sedative locomotory behavior causing the animals to move in circles while dragging the posterior half of their body. Here, we identify the posterior dopaminergic sensory neuron as being essential to modulate this behavior. We further demonstrate that in dop-2 mutants, ethanol exposure increases dopamine secretion and functions in a DVA interneuron dependent manner. DVA releases the neuropeptide NLP-12 that is known to function through cholinergic motor neurons and affect movement. Thus, DOP-2 modulates dopamine levels at the synapse and regulates alcohol induced movement through NLP-12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratima Pandey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Anuradha Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Harjot Kaur
- National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon, India
| | | | - Kavita Babu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Mohali, India
- Centre for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India
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9
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Formisano R, Mersha MD, Caplan J, Singh A, Rankin CH, Tavernarakis N, Dhillon HS. Synaptic vesicle fusion is modulated through feedback inhibition by dopamine auto-receptors. Synapse 2019; 74:e22131. [PMID: 31494966 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of synaptic vesicular fusion and neurotransmitter clearance are highly controlled processes whose finely-tuned regulation is critical for neural function. This modulation has been suggested to involve pre-synaptic auto-receptors; however, their underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. Previous studies with the well-defined C. elegans nervous system have used functional imaging to implicate acid sensing ion channels (ASIC-1) to describe synaptic vesicle fusion dynamics within its eight dopaminergic neurons. Implementing a similar imaging approach with a pH-sensitive fluorescent reporter and fluorescence resonance after photobleaching (FRAP), we analyzed dynamic imaging data collected from individual synaptic termini in live animals. We present evidence that constitutive fusion of neurotransmitter vesicles on dopaminergic synaptic termini is modulated through DOP-2 auto-receptors via a negative feedback loop. Integrating our previous results showing the role of ASIC-1 in a positive feedback loop, we also put forth an updated model for synaptic vesicle fusion in which, along with DAT-1 and ASIC-1, the dopamine auto-receptor DOP-2 lies at a modulatory hub at dopaminergic synapses. Our findings are of potential broader significance as similar mechanisms are likely to be used by auto-receptors for other small molecule neurotransmitters across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Formisano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware
| | - Mahlet D Mersha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware
| | - Jeff Caplan
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Catharine H Rankin
- Department of Psychology and DM Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Harbinder S Dhillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, Delaware
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Koelle MR. Neurotransmitter signaling through heterotrimeric G proteins: insights from studies in C. elegans. WORMBOOK : THE ONLINE REVIEW OF C. ELEGANS BIOLOGY 2018; 2018:1-52. [PMID: 26937633 PMCID: PMC5010795 DOI: 10.1895/wormbook.1.75.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmitters signal via G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate activity of neurons and muscles. C. elegans has ∼150 G protein coupled neuropeptide receptor homologs and 28 additional GPCRs for small-molecule neurotransmitters. Genetic studies in C. elegans demonstrate that neurotransmitters diffuse far from their release sites to activate GPCRs on distant cells. Individual receptor types are expressed on limited numbers of cells and thus can provide very specific regulation of an individual neural circuit and behavior. G protein coupled neurotransmitter receptors signal principally via the three types of heterotrimeric G proteins defined by the G alpha subunits Gαo, Gαq, and Gαs. Each of these G alpha proteins is found in all neurons plus some muscles. Gαo and Gαq signaling inhibit and activate neurotransmitter release, respectively. Gαs signaling, like Gαq signaling, promotes neurotransmitter release. Many details of the signaling mechanisms downstream of Gαq and Gαs have been delineated and are consistent with those of their mammalian orthologs. The details of the signaling mechanism downstream of Gαo remain a mystery. Forward genetic screens in C. elegans have identified new molecular components of neural G protein signaling mechanisms, including Regulators of G protein Signaling (RGS proteins) that inhibit signaling, a new Gαq effector (the Trio RhoGEF domain), and the RIC-8 protein that is required for neuronal Gα signaling. A model is presented in which G proteins sum up the variety of neuromodulator signals that impinge on a neuron to calculate its appropriate output level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Koelle
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven CT 06520 USA
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11
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Kamireddy K, Chinnu S, Priyanka PS, Rajini PS, Giridhar P. Neuroprotective effect of Decalepis hamiltonii aqueous root extract and purified 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde on 6-OHDA induced neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 105:997-1005. [PMID: 30021395 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the possible neuroprotective efficacy of Decalepis hamiltonii tuber extract against 6-Hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) induced neurotoxicity and associated effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. The major component of flavour rich extract from D. hamiltonii is 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde (2H4MB) which is an isomer of vanillin. We have conducted preliminary experiments with different types of extracts and subsequently DHFE (D. hamiltonii Fresh Tuber Extract) and DHPF (D. hamiltonii purified 2H4MB fraction) were used for further studies. Here we attempted to enumerate the neuroprotective efficacy of the above compounds in worms by evaluating behavioural and mitochondrial function, dopamine content and selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in BZ555 strains in comparison with control and 6-OHDA treated organisms. The relative expression levels of selected antioxidant genes involved in defence mechanism like SOD-3, GST-2 and GST-4 were evaluated along with those of CAT-2 and DOP-2 at mRNA level. We observed that both DHPF and DHFE exhibited significant levels of neuroprotective property against 6-OHDA induced neurotoxicity, which was evident in mitochondrial/dopaminergic function and antioxidant defence mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Kamireddy
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (CSIR-CFTRI Campus), Mysore, India; Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, 570020, India
| | - Salim Chinnu
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (CSIR-CFTRI Campus), Mysore, India; Food Protectants and Infestation Control Department, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, 570020, India
| | - P S Priyanka
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (CSIR-CFTRI Campus), Mysore, India; Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, 570020, India
| | - P S Rajini
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (CSIR-CFTRI Campus), Mysore, India; Food Protectants and Infestation Control Department, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, 570020, India
| | - Parvatam Giridhar
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (CSIR-CFTRI Campus), Mysore, India; Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore, 570020, India.
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12
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Tehseen M, Dumancic M, Briggs L, Wang J, Berna A, Anderson A, Trowell S. Functional coupling of a nematode chemoreceptor to the yeast pheromone response pathway. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111429. [PMID: 25415379 PMCID: PMC4240545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequencing of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome revealed sequences encoding more than 1,000 G-protein coupled receptors, hundreds of which may respond to volatile organic ligands. To understand how the worm's simple olfactory system can sense its chemical environment there is a need to characterise a representative selection of these receptors but only very few receptors have been linked to a specific volatile ligand. We therefore set out to design a yeast expression system for assigning ligands to nematode chemoreceptors. We showed that while a model receptor ODR-10 binds to C. elegans Gα subunits ODR-3 and GPA-3 it cannot bind to yeast Gα. However, chimaeras between the nematode and yeast Gα subunits bound to both ODR-10 and the yeast Gβγ subunits. FIG2 was shown to be a superior MAP-dependent promoter for reporter expression. We replaced the endogenous Gα subunit (GPA1) of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ste2Δ sst2Δ far1Δ) triple mutant ("Cyb") with a Gpa1/ODR-3 chimaera and introduced ODR-10 as a model nematode GPCR. This strain showed concentration-dependent activation of the yeast MAP kinase pathway in the presence of diacetyl, the first time that the native form of a nematode chemoreceptor has been functionally expressed in yeast. This is an important step towards en masse de-orphaning of C. elegans chemoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tehseen
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mira Dumancic
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Lyndall Briggs
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jian Wang
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Amalia Berna
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alisha Anderson
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Stephen Trowell
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Tehseen M, Liao C, Dacres H, Dumancic M, Trowell S, Anderson A. Oligomerisation of C. elegans olfactory receptors, ODR-10 and STR-112, in yeast. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108680. [PMID: 25254556 PMCID: PMC4177895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that vertebrate G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) associate with each other as homo- or hetero-dimers or higher-order oligomers. The C. elegans genome encodes hundreds of olfactory GPCRs, which may be expressed in fewer than a dozen chemosensory neurons, suggesting an opportunity for oligomerisation. Here we show, using three independent lines of evidence: co-immunoprecipitation, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and a yeast two-hybrid assay that nematode olfactory receptors (ORs) oligomerise when heterologously expressed in yeast. Specifically, the nematode receptor ODR-10 is able to homo-oligomerise and can also form heteromers with the related nematode receptor STR-112. ODR-10 also oligomerised with the rat I7 OR but did not oligomerise with the human somatostatin receptor 5, a neuropeptide receptor. In this study, the question of functional relevance was not addressed and remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tehseen
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Center for Desert Agriculture, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Chunyan Liao
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Helen Dacres
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mira Dumancic
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stephen Trowell
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alisha Anderson
- CSIRO Food Futures National Research Flagship & CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Huang X, Dai FF, Gaisano G, Giglou K, Han J, Zhang M, Kittanakom S, Wong V, Wei L, Showalter AD, Sloop KW, Stagljar I, Wheeler MB. The identification of novel proteins that interact with the GLP-1 receptor and restrain its activity. Mol Endocrinol 2013; 27:1550-63. [PMID: 23864651 DOI: 10.1210/me.2013-1047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) controls diverse physiological functions in tissues including the pancreatic islets, brain, and heart. To understand the mechanisms that control glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) signaling better, we sought to identify proteins that interact with the GLP-1R using a membrane-based split ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid (MYTH) assay. A screen of a human fetal brain cDNA prey library with an unliganded human GLP-1R as bait in yeast revealed 38 novel interactor protein candidates. These interactions were confirmed in mammalian Chinese hamster ovarian cells by coimmunoprecipitation. Immunofluorescence was used to show subcellular colocalization of the interactors with GLP-1R. Cluster analysis revealed that the interactors were primarily associated with signal transduction, metabolism, and cell development. When coexpressed with the GLP-1R in Chinese hamster ovarian cells, 15 interactors significantly altered GLP-1-induced cAMP accumulation. Surprisingly, all 15 proteins inhibited GLP-1-activated cAMP. Given GLP-1's prominent role as an incretin, we then focused on 3 novel interactors, SLC15A4, APLP1, and AP2M1, because they are highly expressed and localized to the membrane in mouse insulinoma β-cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of each candidate gene significantly enhanced GLP-1-induced insulin secretion. In conclusion, we have generated a novel GLP-1R-protein interactome, identifying several interactors that suppress GLP-1R signaling. We suggest that the inhibition of these interactors may serve as a novel strategy to enhance GLP-1R activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Huang
- Department of Physiology and Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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Mersha M, Formisano R, McDonald R, Pandey P, Tavernarakis N, Harbinder S. GPA-14, a Gα(i) subunit mediates dopaminergic behavioral plasticity in C. elegans. Behav Brain Funct 2013; 9:16. [PMID: 23607404 PMCID: PMC3679979 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-9-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precise levels of specific neurotransmitters are required for appropriate neuronal functioning. The neurotransmitter dopamine is implicated in modulating behaviors, such as cognition, reward and memory. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the release of dopamine during behavioral plasticity is in part modulated through an acid-sensing ion channel expressed in its eight dopaminergic neurons. A D2-like C. elegans dopamine receptor DOP-2 co-expresses along with a Gα(i) subunit (GPA-14) in the anterior deirid (ADE) pair of dopaminergic neurons. FINDINGS In follow-up experiments to our recently reported in vitro physical interaction between DOP-2 and GPA-14, we have behaviorally characterized worms carrying deletion mutations in gpa-14 and/or dop-2. We found both mutants to display behavioral abnormalities in habituation as well as associative learning, and exogenous supply of dopamine was able to revert the observed behavioral deficits. The behavioral phenotypes of dop-2 and gpa-14 loss-of-function mutants were found to be remarkably similar, and we did not observe any cumulative defects in their double mutants. CONCLUSION Our results provide genetic and phenotypic support to our earlier in vitro results where we had shown that the DOP-2 dopamine receptor and the GPA-14 Gα(i) subunit physically interact with each other. Results from behavioral experiments presented here together with our previous in-vitro work suggests that the DOP-2 functions as a dopamine auto-receptor to modulate two types of learning, anterior touch habituation and chemosensory associative conditioning, through a G-protein complex that comprises GPA-14 as its Gα subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahlet Mersha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Delaware State University, Dover, DE 19901, USA
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Correa P, LeBoeuf B, García LR. C. elegans dopaminergic D2-like receptors delimit recurrent cholinergic-mediated motor programs during a goal-oriented behavior. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1003015. [PMID: 23166505 PMCID: PMC3499252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans male copulation requires coordinated temporal-spatial execution of different motor outputs. During mating, a cloacal circuit consisting of cholinergic sensory-motor neurons and sex muscles maintains the male's position and executes copulatory spicule thrusts at his mate's vulva. However, distinct signaling mechanisms that delimit these behaviors to their proper context are unclear. We found that dopamine (DA) signaling directs copulatory spicule insertion attempts to the hermaphrodite vulva by dampening spurious stimulus-independent sex muscle contractions. From pharmacology and genetic analyses, DA antagonizes stimulatory ACh signaling via the D2-like receptors, DOP-2 and DOP-3, and Gα(o/i) proteins, GOA-1 and GPA-7. Calcium imaging and optogenetics suggest that heightened DA-expressing ray neuron activities coincide with the cholinergic cloacal ganglia function during spicule insertion attempts. D2-like receptor signaling also attenuates the excitability of additional mating circuits to reduce the duration of mating attempts with unproductive and/or inappropriate partners. This suggests that, during wild-type mating, simultaneous DA-ACh signaling modulates the activity threshold of repetitive motor programs, thus confining the behavior to the proper situational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Correa
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Brigitte LeBoeuf
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - L. René García
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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