title: Hyperactivation of B-type motor neurons results in aberrant synchrony of the Caenorhabditis elegans motor circuit.
abstract: Excitatory acetylcholine motor neurons drive Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion. Coordinating the activation states of the backward-driving A and forward-driving B class motor neurons is critical for generating sinusoidal and directional locomotion. Here, we show by in vivo calcium imaging that expression of a hyperactive, somatodendritic ionotropic acetylcholine receptor ACR-2(gf) in A and B class motor neurons induces aberrant synchronous activity in both ventral- and dorsal-innervating B and A class motor neurons. Expression of ACR-2(gf) in either ventral- or dorsal-innervating B neurons is sufficient for triggering the aberrant synchrony that results in arrhythmic convulsions. Silencing of AVB, the premotor interneurons that innervate B motor neurons suppresses ACR-2(gf)-dependent convulsion; activating AVB by channelrhodopsin induces the onset of convulsion. These results support that the activity state of B motor neurons plays an instructive role for the coordination of motor circuit.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, 310036 Hangzhou, China. billyqi@idrbio.org
authors.forename: Yingchuan B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Po
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mac
authors.forename: Taizo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Yishi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: C098140:Acr-2 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000109:Acetylcholine