title: Ca2+ signaling via the neuronal calcium sensor-1 regulates associative learning and memory in C. elegans.
abstract: On a radial temperature gradient, C. elegans worms migrate, after conditioning with food, toward their cultivation temperature and move along this isotherm. This experience-dependent behavior is called isothermal tracking (IT). Here we show that the neuron-specific calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is essential for optimal IT. ncs-1 knockout animals show major defects in IT behavior, although their chemotactic, locomotor, and thermal avoidance behaviors are normal. The knockout phenotype can be rescued by reintroducing wild-type NCS-1 into the AIY interneuron, a key component of the thermotaxis network. A loss-of-function form of NCS-1 incapable of binding calcium does not restore IT, whereas NCS-1 overexpression enhances IT performance levels, accelerates learning (faster acquisition), and produces a memory with slower extinction. Thus, proper calcium signaling via NCS-1 defines a novel pathway essential for associative learning and memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Central Nervous System, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guarin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasakura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhara
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartfai
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Bargmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nef
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051580:Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D051580:Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C101464:frequenin calcium sensor proteins