Abstract
A key feature of escape responses is the fast translation of sensory information into a coordinated motor output. In C. elegans, anterior touch initiates a backward escape response in which lateral head movements are suppressed. Here, we show that tyramine inhibits head movements and forward locomotion through the activation of a tyramine-gated chloride channel, LGC-55. lgc-55 mutant animals have defects in reversal behavior and fail to suppress head oscillations in response to anterior touch. lgc-55 is expressed in neurons and muscle cells that receive direct synaptic inputs from tyraminergic motor neurons. Therefore, tyramine can act as a classical inhibitory neurotransmitter. Activation of LGC-55 by tyramine coordinates the output of two distinct motor programs, locomotion and head movements that are critical for a C. elegans escape response.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Behavior, Animal
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Chloride Channels / genetics
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Chloride Channels / physiology*
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Electric Stimulation / methods
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Escape Reaction / physiology*
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Gene Expression / drug effects
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Head Movements / drug effects
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Ion Channel Gating / drug effects*
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Locomotion / drug effects
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Locomotion / genetics
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Membrane Potentials / drug effects
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Membrane Potentials / genetics
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Mutation / genetics
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Neck Muscles / metabolism
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Oocytes / drug effects
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Oocytes / physiology
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Physical Stimulation / methods
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Sequence Analysis, Protein
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Tyramine / pharmacology*
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Xenopus laevis
Substances
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Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Chloride Channels
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Tyramine