Caenorhabditis elegans innexins regulate active zone differentiation.
In a genetic screen for active zone defective mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans, we isolated a loss-of-function allele of unc-7, a gene encoding an innexin/pannexin family gap junction protein. Innexin UNC-7 regulates the size and distribution of active zones at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions. Loss-of-function mutations in another innexin, UNC-9, cause similar active zone defects as unc-7 mutants. In addition to presumptive gap junction localizations, both UNC-7 and UNC-9 are also localized perisynaptically throughout development and required in presynaptic neurons to regulate active zone differentiation. Our mosaic analyses, electron microscopy, as well as expression studies suggest a novel and likely nonjunctional role of specific innexins in active zone differentiation in addition to gap junction formations.
Yeh
Edward
E
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Montana Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada.
Kawano
Taizo
T
Ng
Sharon
S
Fetter
Richard
R
Hung
Wesley
W
Wang
Ying
Y
Zhen
Mei
M
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017630:Connexins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C094444:Unc-7 protein, C elegans; C109201:Unc-9 protein, C elegans