The evolutionarily conserved gene LNP-1 is required for synaptic vesicle trafficking and synaptic transmission.
The control of vesicle-mediated transport in nerve cells is of great importance in the function, development and maintenance of synapse. In this paper, we characterize the new Caenorhabditis elegans gene, lnp-1. The lnp-1 gene is broadly distributed in many neuronal structures and its localization is dependent of the UNC-104/kinesin protein. Deletion mutations in lnp-1 result in increased resistance to aldicarb, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and in locomotor defects. However, sensitivity to levamisole, a nicotinic agonist which, unlike aldicarb, only affects postsynaptic function, was similar to that of wild-type animals, suggesting a presynaptic function for LNP-1 in neurotransmission. The mislocalization of presynaptic proteins, such as synaptobrevin-1 or RAB-3, in lnp-1 mutants further supports this hypothesis. In summary, our studies suggest that LNP-1 plays a role in synaptogenesis by regulating vesicular transport or localization.
Ghila
Luiza
L
Department of Zoology and Animal Biology and NCCR Frontiers in Genetics, University of Geneva, Sciences III, 30 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
Gomez
Marie
M
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050987:Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020692:rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; C528212:LNP-1 protein, C elegans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; C423186:UNC-104 protein, C elegans; D050987:Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1; D020692:rab3 GTP-Binding Proteins