Ligand-gated chloride channels are receptors for biogenic amines in C. elegans.
Biogenic amines such as serotonin and dopamine are intercellular signaling molecules that function widely as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. We have identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans three ligand-gated chloride channels that are receptors for biogenic amines: LGC-53 is a high-affinity dopamine receptor, LGC-55 is a high-affinity tyramine receptor, and LGC-40 is a low-affinity serotonin receptor that is also gated by choline and acetylcholine. lgc-55 mutants are defective in a behavior that requires endogenous tyramine, which indicates that this ionotropic tyramine receptor functions in tyramine signaling in vivo. Our studies suggest that direct activation of membrane chloride conductances is a general mechanism of action for biogenic amines in the modulation of C. elegans behavior.
Ringstad
Niels
N
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Abe
Namiko
N
Horvitz
H Robert
HR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D008024:Ligands; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism; D014981:Xenopus
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018118:Chloride Channels; C542019:LGC-40 protein, C elegans; C542020:LGC-53 protein, C elegans; C542018:LGC-55 protein, c elegans; D008024:Ligands; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D014439:Tyramine