title: Single-Cell Memory Regulates a Neural Circuit for Sensory Behavior.
abstract: Unveiling the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying memory has been a challenge for the past few decades. Although synaptic plasticity is proven to be essential for memory formation, the significance of "single-cell memory" still remains elusive. Here, we exploited a primary culture system for the analysis of C. elegans neurons and show that a single thermosensory neuron has an ability to form, retain, and reset a temperature memory. Genetic and proteomic analyses found that the expression of the single-cell memory exhibits inter-individual variability, which is controlled by the evolutionarily conserved CaMKI/IV and Raf pathway. The variable responses of a sensory neuron influenced the neural activity of downstream interneurons, suggesting that modulation of the sensory neurons ultimately determines the behavioral output in C. elegans. Our results provide proof of single-cell memory and suggest that the individual differences in neural responses at the single-cell level can confer individuality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyogo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Mutsuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Genta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaibuchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan; CREST, JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan. Electronic address: m46920a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ikue
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D054734:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D048490:raf Kinases; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1; D054734:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4