Mutations Affecting the Chemosensory Neurons of Caenorhabditis Elegans (original) (raw)

Abstract

We have identified and characterized 95 mutations that reduce or abolish dye filling of amphid and phasmid neurons and that have little effect on viability, fertility or movement. Twenty-seven mutations occurred spontaneously in strains with a high frequency of transposon insertion. Sixty-eight were isolated after treatment with EMS. All of the mutations result in defects in one or more chemosensory responses, such as chemotaxis to ammonium chloride or formation of dauer larvae under conditions of starvation and overcrowding. Seventy-five of the mutations are alleles of 12 previously defined genes, mutations which were previously shown to lead to defects in amphid ultrastructure. We have assigned 20 mutations to 13 new genes, called dyf-1 through dyf-13. We expect that the genes represented by dye-filling defective mutants are important for the differentiation of amphid and phasmid chemosensilla.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (3.3 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albert P. S., Brown S. J., Riddle D. L. Sensory control of dauer larva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Comp Neurol. 1981 May 20;198(3):435–451. doi: 10.1002/cne.901980305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bargmann C. I. Genetic and cellular analysis of behavior in C. elegans. Annu Rev Neurosci. 1993;16:47–71. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ne.16.030193.000403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bargmann C. I., Hartwieg E., Horvitz H. R. Odorant-selective genes and neurons mediate olfaction in C. elegans. Cell. 1993 Aug 13;74(3):515–527. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(93)80053-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bargmann C. I., Horvitz H. R. Chemosensory neurons with overlapping functions direct chemotaxis to multiple chemicals in C. elegans. Neuron. 1991 Nov;7(5):729–742. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(91)90276-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bargmann C. I., Horvitz H. R. Control of larval development by chemosensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans. Science. 1991 Mar 8;251(4998):1243–1246. doi: 10.1126/science.2006412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bargmann C. I., Thomas J. H., Horvitz H. R. Chemosensory cell function in the behavior and development of Caenorhabditis elegans. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1990;55:529–538. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1990.055.01.051. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brenner S. The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1974 May;77(1):71–94. doi: 10.1093/genetics/77.1.71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cassada R. C., Russell R. L. The dauerlarva, a post-embryonic developmental variant of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol. 1975 Oct;46(2):326–342. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(75)90109-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Collins J., Forbes E., Anderson P. The Tc3 family of transposable genetic elements in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1989 Jan;121(1):47–55. doi: 10.1093/genetics/121.1.47. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Collins J., Saari B., Anderson P. Activation of a transposable element in the germ line but not the soma of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature. 1987 Aug 20;328(6132):726–728. doi: 10.1038/328726a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dusenbery D. B. Analysis of chemotaxis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by countercurrent separation. J Exp Zool. 1974 Apr;188(1):41–47. doi: 10.1002/jez.1401880105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dusenbery D. B. The avoidance of D-tryptophan by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. J Exp Zool. 1975 Sep;193(3):413–418. doi: 10.1002/jez.1401930319. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Golden J. W., Riddle D. L. A gene affecting production of the Caenorhabditis elegans dauer-inducing pheromone. Mol Gen Genet. 1985;198(3):534–536. doi: 10.1007/BF00332953. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hartman P. S. Caffeine-resistant mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genet Res. 1987 Apr;49(2):105–110. doi: 10.1017/s0016672300026896. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hedgecock E. M., Culotti J. G., Thomson J. N., Perkins L. A. Axonal guidance mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans identified by filling sensory neurons with fluorescein dyes. Dev Biol. 1985 Sep;111(1):158–170. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(85)90443-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Herman M. A., Horvitz H. R. The Caenorhabditis elegans gene lin-44 controls the polarity of asymmetric cell divisions. Development. 1994 May;120(5):1035–1047. doi: 10.1242/dev.120.5.1035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Herman R. K. Mosaic analysis of two genes that affect nervous system structure in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1987 Jul;116(3):377–388. doi: 10.1093/genetics/116.3.377. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hodgkin J. Male Phenotypes and Mating Efficiency in CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS. Genetics. 1983 Jan;103(1):43–64. doi: 10.1093/genetics/103.1.43. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hodgkin J. More sex-determination mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1980 Nov;96(3):649–664. doi: 10.1093/genetics/96.3.649. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Horvitz H. R., Brenner S., Hodgkin J., Herman R. K. A uniform genetic nomenclature for the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Gen Genet. 1979 Sep;175(2):129–133. doi: 10.1007/BF00425528. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lee J., Jongeward G. D., Sternberg P. W. unc-101, a gene required for many aspects of Caenorhabditis elegans development and behavior, encodes a clathrin-associated protein. Genes Dev. 1994 Jan;8(1):60–73. doi: 10.1101/gad.8.1.60. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Lewis J. A., Hodgkin J. A. Specific neuroanatomical changes in chemosensory mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. J Comp Neurol. 1977 Apr 1;172(3):489–510. doi: 10.1002/cne.901720306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Li W., Shaw J. E. A variant Tc4 transposable element in the nematode C. elegans could encode a novel protein. Nucleic Acids Res. 1993 Jan 11;21(1):59–67. doi: 10.1093/nar/21.1.59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Link C. D., Silverman M. A., Breen M., Watt K. E., Dames S. A. Characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans lectin-binding mutants. Genetics. 1992 Aug;131(4):867–881. doi: 10.1093/genetics/131.4.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Lundquist E. A., Herman R. K. The mec-8 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans affects muscle and sensory neuron function and interacts with three other genes: unc-52, smu-1 and smu-2. Genetics. 1994 Sep;138(1):83–101. doi: 10.1093/genetics/138.1.83. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Maine E. M., Kimble J. Suppressors of glp-1, a gene required for cell communication during development in Caenorhabditis elegans, define a set of interacting genes. Genetics. 1993 Dec;135(4):1011–1022. doi: 10.1093/genetics/135.4.1011. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Mori I., Moerman D. G., Waterston R. H. Analysis of a mutator activity necessary for germline transposition and excision of Tc1 transposable elements in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 1988 Oct;120(2):397–407. doi: 10.1093/genetics/120.2.397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Perkins L. A., Hedgecock E. M., Thomson J. N., Culotti J. G. Mutant sensory cilia in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol. 1986 Oct;117(2):456–487. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(86)90314-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Politz S. M., Philipp M., Estevez M., O'Brien P. J., Chin K. J. Genes that can be mutated to unmask hidden antigenic determinants in the cuticle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Apr;87(8):2901–2905. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.8.2901. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Riddle D. L., Swanson M. M., Albert P. S. Interacting genes in nematode dauer larva formation. Nature. 1981 Apr 23;290(5808):668–671. doi: 10.1038/290668a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Sternberg P. W., Horvitz H. R. lin-17 mutations of Caenorhabditis elegans disrupt certain asymmetric cell divisions. Dev Biol. 1988 Nov;130(1):67–73. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(88)90414-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Sulston J. E., Albertson D. G., Thomson J. N. The Caenorhabditis elegans male: postembryonic development of nongonadal structures. Dev Biol. 1980 Aug;78(2):542–576. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(80)90352-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Sulston J. E., Schierenberg E., White J. G., Thomson J. N. The embryonic cell lineage of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev Biol. 1983 Nov;100(1):64–119. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(83)90201-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Thomas J. H. Chemosensory regulation of development in C. elegans. Bioessays. 1993 Dec;15(12):791–797. doi: 10.1002/bies.950151204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Ward S., Thomson N., White J. G., Brenner S. Electron microscopical reconstruction of the anterior sensory anatomy of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.?2UU. J Comp Neurol. 1975 Apr 1;160(3):313–337. doi: 10.1002/cne.901600305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Waterston R., Martin C., Craxton M., Huynh C., Coulson A., Hillier L., Durbin R., Green P., Shownkeen R., Halloran N. A survey of expressed genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Genet. 1992 May;1(2):114–123. doi: 10.1038/ng0592-114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. White J. G., Southgate E., Thomson J. N., Brenner S. The structure of the ventral nerve cord of Caenorhabditis elegans. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1976 Aug 10;275(938):327–348. doi: 10.1098/rstb.1976.0086. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Yuan J. Y., Finney M., Tsung N., Horvitz H. R. Tc4, a Caenorhabditis elegans transposable element with an unusual fold-back structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Apr 15;88(8):3334–3338. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.8.3334. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]