title: A novel nondevelopmental role of the sax-7/L1CAM cell adhesion molecule in synaptic regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The L1CAM family of cell adhesion molecules is a conserved set of single-pass transmembrane proteins that play diverse roles required for proper nervous system development and function. Mutations in L1CAMs can cause the neurological L1 syndrome and are associated with autism and neuropsychiatric disorders. L1CAM expression in the mature nervous system suggests additional functions besides the well-characterized developmental roles. In this study, we demonstrate that the gene encoding the Caenorhabditis elegans L1CAM, sax-7, genetically interacts with gtl-2, as well as with unc-13 and rab-3, genes that function in neurotransmission. These sax-7 genetic interactions result in synthetic phenotypes that are consistent with abnormal synaptic function. Using an inducible sax-7 expression system and pharmacological reagents that interfere with cholinergic transmission, we uncovered a previously uncharacterized nondevelopmental role for sax-7 that impinges on synaptic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2386-7734
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Opperman
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moseley-Alldredge
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yochem
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanayinkal
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 chenx260@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Lihsia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000448:Aldicarb / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D009154:Mutation; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D000448:Aldicarb
keywords: C. elegans; GTL-2 TRPM channel; modifier gene; sax-7 L1CAM; synaptic function