title: Bridging the gap between genes and behavior: recent advances in the electrophysiological analysis of neural function in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has long been popular with researchers interested in fundamental issues of neural development, sensory processing and behavior. Recently, advances in applying electrophysiological techniques to C. elegans have made this genetically tractable organism considerably more attractive to neurobiologists studying the molecular mechanisms of synaptic organization and function. The development of techniques that involve voltage-clamp of specific neurons and muscles has allowed the coupling of genetic perturbation techniques with electrophysiological analyses of nervous system function. Recent studies combining these biophysical and genetic techniques have provided novel insights into the mechanisms of presynaptic neurotransmitter release, postsynaptic responses to neurotransmitters and information processing by neural circuits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Jerry E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mellem
authors.forename: Andres Villu
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Maricq
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate