title: The GABA nervous system in C. elegans.
abstract: GABA neurotransmission requires a specialized set of proteins to synthesize, transport or respond to GABA. This article reviews results from a genetic strategy in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans designed to identify the genes responsible for these activities. These studies identified mutations in genes encoding five different proteins: the biosynthetic enzyme for GABA, the vesicular GABA transporter, a transcription factor that determines GABA neuron identity, a classic inhibitory GABA receptor and a novel excitatory GABA receptor. This review discusses the strategy employed to identify these genes as well as the conclusions about GABA transmission derived from study of the mutant phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schuske
authors.forename: Asim A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Beg
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D009420:Nervous System; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018079:Receptors, GABA; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid