title: The composition of the GABA receptor at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction.
abstract: 1. The unc-49 gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans encodes three gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor subunits. Two of these, UNC-49B and UNC-49C, are expressed at high abundance and co-localize at the neuromuscular junction. 2. The UNC-49B subunit is sufficient to form a GABA(A) receptor in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, all loss-of-function unc-49 alleles lack functional UNC-49B. No mutations specifically inactivate UNC-49C. Thus, UNC-49C appears to be dispensable for receptor function; however, UNC-49C has been conserved among different nematode species, suggesting it plays a necessary role. 3. To ascertain whether UNC-49C is part of the GABA(A) receptor in vivo, we performed patch-clamp electrophysiology on C. elegans muscle cells. Sensitivity to GABA, and to the antagonists picrotoxin and pregnenolone sulfate, matched the UNC-49B/C heteromer rather than the UNC-49B homomer, for both exogenous and synaptically-released GABA. 4. The synaptic localization of UNC-49C requires the presence of UNC-49B, indicative of a physical association between the two subunits in vivo. Thus, the in vivo receptor is an UNC-49B/C heteromer. 5. UNC-49C plays a negative modulatory role. Using the rapid ligand-exchange technique in vitro, we determined that UNC-49C causes accelerated receptor desensitization. Previously, UNC-49C was shown to reduce single-channel conductance in UNC-49B/C heteromers. Thus, the function of UNC-49B is to provide GABA responsiveness and localization to synapses, while the function of UNC-49C is to negatively modulate receptor function and precisely shape inhibitory postsynaptic currents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0840, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bamber
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A