Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 11 September 1998:
Vol. 281. no. 5383, pp. 1686 - 1690
DOI: 10.1126/science.281.5383.1686
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Disruption of a Neuropeptide Gene, flp-1, Causes Multiple Behavioral Defects in Caenorhabditis elegans

Laura S. Nelson, * Marc L. Rosoff, dagger Chris Li ddagger

Neuropeptides serve as important signaling molecules in the nervous system. The FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide)-related neuropeptide gene family in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is composed of at least 18 genes that may encode 53 distinct FMRFamide-related peptides. Disruption of one of these genes, flp-1, causes numerous behavioral defects, including uncoordination, hyperactivity, and insensitivity to high osmolarity. Conversely, overexpression of flp-1 results in the reciprocal phenotypes. On the basis of epistasis analysis, flp-1 gene products appear to signal upstream of a G protein-coupled second messenger system. These results demonstrate that varying the levels of FLP-1 neuropeptides can profoundly affect behavior and that members of this large neuropeptide gene family are not functionally redundant in C. elegans.

Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
*   Present address: Axys Pharmaceuticals, 180 Kimball Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.

dagger    Present address: Elan Pharmaceuticals, 3760 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.

ddagger    To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: li{at}bu.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
UNC-31 (CAPS) Is Required for Dense-Core Vesicle But Not Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
S. Speese, M. Petrie, K. Schuske, M. Ailion, K. Ann, K. Iwasaki, E. M. Jorgensen, and T. F. J. Martin (2007)
J. Neurosci. 27, 6150-6162
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
flp gene disruption in a parasitic nematode reveals motor dysfunction and unusual neuronal sensitivity to RNA interference.
M. J. Kimber, S. McKinney, S. McMaster, T. A. Day, C. C. Fleming, and A. G. Maule (2007)
FASEB J 21, 1233-1243
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of a Novel Prothoracicostatic Hormone and Its Receptor in the Silkworm Bombyx mori.
N. Yamanaka, Y.-J. Hua, A. Mizoguchi, K. Watanabe, R. Niwa, Y. Tanaka, and H. Kataoka (2005)
J. Biol. Chem. 280, 14684-14690
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Annelid Endocrine Disruptors and a Survey of Invertebrate FMRFamide-Related Peptides.
K. G. Krajniak (2005)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 45, 88-96
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Activation of EGL-47, a G{alpha}o-Coupled Receptor, Inhibits Function of Hermaphrodite-Specific Motor Neurons to Regulate Caenorhabditis elegans Egg-Laying Behavior.
J. J. Moresco and M. R. Koelle (2004)
J. Neurosci. 24, 8522-8530
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Caenorhabditis elegans Orthologue of Mammalian Puromycin-sensitive Aminopeptidase Has Roles in Embryogenesis and Reproduction.
D. R. Brooks, N. M. Hooper, and R. E. Isaac (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 42795-42801
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Isolation and Characterization of High-Temperature-Induced Dauer Formation Mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans.
M. Ailion and J. H. Thomas (2003)
Genetics 165, 127-144
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification and Characterization of a Novel RF-amide Peptide Ligand for Orphan G-protein-coupled Receptor SP9155.
Y. Jiang, L. Luo, E. L. Gustafson, D. Yadav, M. Laverty, N. Murgolo, G. Vassileva, M. Zeng, T. M. Laz, J. Behan, et al. (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 27652-27657
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The EGL-21 Carboxypeptidase E Facilitates Acetylcholine Release at Caenorhabditis elegans Neuromuscular Junctions.
T. C. Jacob and J. M . Kaplan (2003)
J. Neurosci. 23, 2122-2130
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of spatial and temporal cues that regulate postembryonic expression of axon maintenance factors in the C. elegans ventral nerve cord.
O. Aurelio, T. Boulin, and O. Hobert (2003)
Development 130, 599-610
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification in Drosophila melanogaster of the invertebrate G protein-coupled FMRFamide receptor.
T. Meeusen, I. Mertens, E. Clynen, G. Baggerman, R. Nichols, R. J. Nachman, R. Huybrechts, A. De Loof, and L. Schoofs (2002)
PNAS 99, 15363-15368
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Orphan G protein-coupled receptors MrgA1 and MrgC11 are distinctively activated by RF-amide-related peptides through the Galpha q/11 pathway.
S.-K. Han, X. Dong, J.-I. Hwang, M. J. Zylka, D. J. Anderson, and M. I. Simon (2002)
PNAS 99, 14740-14745
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Molecular cloning and functional expression of the first insect FMRFamide receptor.
G. Cazzamali and C. J. P. Grimmelikhuijzen (2002)
PNAS 99, 12073-12078
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The EGL-3 Proprotein Convertase Regulates Mechanosensory Responses of Caenorhabditis elegans.
J. Kass, T. C. Jacob, P. Kim, and J. M. Kaplan (2001)
J. Neurosci. 21, 9265-9272
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of neuropeptide-like protein gene families in Caenorhabditiselegans and other species.
A. N. Nathoo, R. A. Moeller, B. A. Westlund, and A. C. Hart (2001)
PNAS 98, 14000-14005
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Neuronal Expression of an FMRFamide-Gated Na+ Channel and Its Modulation by Acid pH.
S. J. Perry, V. A. Straub, M. G. Schofield, J. F. Burke, and P. R. Benjamin (2001)
J. Neurosci. 21, 5559-5567
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A regulatory cascade of three homeobox genes, ceh-10, ttx-3 and ceh-23, controls cell fate specification of a defined interneuron class in C. elegans.
Z. Altun-Gultekin, Y. Andachi, E. L. Tsalik, D. Pilgrim, Y. Kohara, and O. Hobert (2001)
Development 128, 1951-1969
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effect of a Neuropeptide Gene on Behavioral States in Caenorhabditis elegans Egg-Laying.
L. E. Waggoner, L. A. Hardaker, S. Golik, and W. R. Schafer (2000)
Genetics 154, 1181-1192
   Abstract »    Full Text »
EAT-20, a Novel Transmembrane Protein With EGF Motifs, Is Required for Efficient Feeding in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Y. Shibata, T. Fujii, J. A. Dent, H. Fujisawa, and S. Takagi (2000)
Genetics 154, 635-646
   Abstract »    Full Text »
The fax-1 nuclear hormone receptor regulates axon pathfinding and neurotransmitter expression.
J. Much, D. Slade, K Klampert, G Garriga, and B Wightman (2000)
Development 127, 703-712
   Abstract »    PDF »
Thermal avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: An approach to the study of nociception.
N. Wittenburg and R. Baumeister (1999)
PNAS 96, 10477-10482
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Conformational Ensembles: The Role of Neuropeptide Structures in Receptor Binding.
A. S. Edison, E. Espinoza, and C. Zachariah (1999)
J. Neurosci. 19, 6318-6326
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Neurobiology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Genome.
C. I. Bargmann (1998)
Science 282, 2028-2033
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)