title: The immunoglobulin super family protein RIG-3 prevents synaptic potentiation and regulates Wnt signaling.
abstract: Cell surface Ig superfamily proteins (IgSF) have been implicated in several aspects of neuron development and function. Here, we describe the function of a Caenorhabditis elegans IgSF protein, RIG-3. Mutants lacking RIG-3 have an exaggerated paralytic response to a cholinesterase inhibitor, aldicarb. Although RIG-3 is expressed in motor neurons, heightened drug responsiveness was caused by an aldicarb-induced increase in muscle ACR-16 acetylcholine receptor (AChR) abundance, and a corresponding potentiation of postsynaptic responses at neuromuscular junctions. Mutants lacking RIG-3 also had defects in the anteroposterior polarity of the ALM mechanosensory neurons. The effects of RIG-3 on synaptic transmission and ALM polarity were both mediated by changes in Wnt signaling, and in particular by inhibiting CAM-1, a Ror-type receptor tyrosine kinase that binds Wnt ligands. These results identify RIG-3 as a regulator of Wnt signaling, and suggest that RIG-3 has an anti-plasticity function that prevents activity-induced changes in postsynaptic receptor fields.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Kavita
authors: K
authors: Babu
authors: Zhitao
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Shih-Chieh
authors: SC
authors: Chien
authors: Gian
authors: G
authors: Garriga
authors: Joshua M
authors: JM
authors: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000448:Aldicarb / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D057050:Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C561109:RIG-3 protein, C elegans; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C099378:acr-16 protein, C elegans; D000448:Aldicarb; C526267:CAM-1 protein, C elegans; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D057050:Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors