title: High-throughput optical quantification of mechanosensory habituation reveals neurons encoding memory in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: A major goal of neuroscience studies is to identify the neurons and molecules responsible for memory. Mechanosensory habituation in Caenorhabditis elegans is a simple form of learning and memory, in which a circuit of several sensory neurons and interneurons governs behavior. However, despite the usefulness of this paradigm, there are hardly any systems for rapid and accurate behavioral genetic analysis. Here, we developed a multiplexed optical system to genetically analyze C. elegans mechanosensory habituation, and identified two interneurons involved in memory formation. The system automatically trains large populations of animals and simultaneously quantifies the behaviors of various strains by optically discriminating between transgenic and nontransgenic animals. Biochemical and cell-specific behavioral analyses indicated that phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a factor known to regulate memory allocation, was facilitated during training and this phosphorylation in AVA and AVD interneurons was required for habituation. These interneurons are a potential target for cell-specific exploration of the molecular substrates of memory.
authors.affiliation: PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan; Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; and tsugi@icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; and.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumiya
authors.affiliation: PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan; Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; and Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C556191:CRH-1 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; mechanosensory habituation; memory; neural circuit; optical quantification