Presynaptic UNC-31 (CAPS) is required to activate the G alpha(s) pathway of the Caenorhabditis elegans synaptic signaling network.

ABSTRACT: C. elegans mutants lacking the dense-core vesicle priming protein UNC-31 (CAPS) share highly similar phenotypes with mutants lacking a neuronal G alpha(s) pathway, including strong paralysis despite exhibiting near normal levels of steady-state acetylcholine release as indicated by drug sensitivity assays. Our genetic analysis shows that UNC-31 and neuronal G alpha(s) are different parts of the same pathway and that the UNC-31/G alpha(s) pathway is functionally distinct from the presynaptic G alpha(q) pathway with which it interacts. UNC-31 acts upstream of G alpha(s) because mutations that activate the G alpha(s) pathway confer similar levels of strongly hyperactive, coordinated locomotion in both unc-31 null and (+) backgrounds. Using cell-specific promoters, we show that both UNC-31 and

SUBMITTER: Charlie NK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1456257 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature