Sensing of cadmium and copper ions by externally exposed ADL, ASE, and ASH neurons elicits avoidance response in Caenorhabditis elegans.
We developed a quantitative assay for Caenorhabditis elegans avoidance behavior. This was then used to demonstrate that the worm moved away from toxic concentrations of Cd2+ and Cu2+, but not Ni2+, all ions that prevented development from larval to adult stages. Mutants that have structural defects in ciliated neurons (che-2 and osm-3) as well as worms with three laser-operated neurons (ADL, ASE, and ASH), showed no avoidance behavior from Cd2+ and Cu2+. These results suggest that the avoidance from Cd2+ and Cu2+ are mediated through multiple neural pathways including ADL, ASE, and ASH neurons. We hypothesize that the three sensing neurons provide increased accuracy of the sensory response and a survival advantage in the natural environment of the worm.
Sambongi
Y
Y
Division of Biological Sciences, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, CREST of Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Ibaraki.
Nagae
T
T
Liu
Y
Y
Yoshimizu
T
T
Takeda
K
K
Wada
Y
Y
Futai
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology
D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel