The LIM homeobox gene ceh-14 confers thermosensory function to the AFD neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans.
In Caenorhabditis elegans three pairs of neurons, AFD, AIY, and AIZ, play a key role in thermosensation. The LIM homeobox gene ceh-14 is expressed in the AFD thermosensory neurons. ceh-14 mutant animals display athermotactic behaviors, although the neurons are still present and differentiated. Two other LIM homeobox genes, ttx-3 and lin-11, function in the two interneurons AIY and AIZ, respectively. Thus, the three key thermosensory neurons are specified by three different LIM homeobox genes. ceh-14 ttx-3 lin-11 triple mutant animals have a basic cryophilic thermotaxis behavior indicative of a second thermotaxis pathway. Misexpression of ceh-14 in chemosensory neurons can restore thermotactic behavior without impairing the chemosensory function. Thus, ceh-14 confers thermosensory function to neurons.
Cassata
G
G
Division of Cell Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Kagoshima
H
H
Andachi
Y
Y
Kohara
Y
Y
Dürrenberger
M B
MB
Hall
D H
DH
Bürglin
T R
TR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors
C407044:CEH-14 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; C111267:Lin-11 protein, C elegans; D009479:Neuropeptides; C108368:TTX-3 protein, C elegans; D014157:Transcription Factors