Levamisole resistance resolved at the single-channel level in Caenorhabditis elegans

FASEB J. 2008 Sep;22(9):3247-54. doi: 10.1096/fj.08-110502. Epub 2008 Jun 2.

Abstract

Sydney Brenner promoted Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, and subsequent investigations pursued resistance to the nicotinic anthelmintic drug levamisole in C. elegans at a genetic level. These studies have advanced our understanding of genes associated with neuromuscular transmission and resistance to the antinematodal drug. In lev-8 and lev-1 mutant C. elegans, levamisole resistance is associated with reductions in levamisole-activated whole muscle cell currents. Although lev-8 and lev-1 are known to code for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits, an explanation for why these currents get smaller is not available. In wild-type adults, nAChRs aggregate at neuromuscular junctions and are not accessible for single-channel recording. Here we describe a use of LEV-10 knockouts, in which aggregation is lost, to make in situ recordings of nAChR channel currents. Our observations provide an explanation for levamisole resistance produced by LEV-8 and LEV-1 mutants at the single-channel level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
  • Drug Resistance*
  • Ion Channels / physiology*
  • Levamisole / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / physiology*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • LEV-10 protein, C elegans
  • Lev-1 protein, C elegans
  • Lev-8 protein, C elegans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Levamisole