Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II regulates Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion in concert with a G(o)/G(q) signaling network.
Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion is a complex behavior generated by a defined set of motor neurons and interneurons. Genetic analysis shows that UNC-43, the C. elegans Ca(2+)/calmodulin protein kinase II (CaMKII), controls locomotion rate. Elevated UNC-43 activity, from a gain-of-function mutation, causes severely lethargic locomotion, presumably by inappropriate phosphorylation of targets. In a genetic screen for suppressors of this phenotype, we identified multiple alleles of four genes in a G(o)/G(q) G-protein signaling network, which has been shown to regulate synaptic activity via diacylglycerol. Mutations in goa-1, dgk-1, eat-16, or eat-11 strongly or completely suppressed unc-43(gf) lethargy, but affected other mutants with reduced locomotion only weakly. We conclude that CaMKII and G(o)/G(q) pathways act in concert to regulate synaptic activity, perhaps through a direct interaction between CaMKII and G(o).
Robatzek
M
M
Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Thomas
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010058:Oviposition; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; C517679:unc-43 protein, C elegans; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins