Control of feeding behavior in C. elegans by human G protein-coupled receptors permits screening for agonist-expressing bacteria.

ABSTRACT: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have a key role in many biological processes and are important drug targets for many human diseases. Therefore, understanding the molecular interactions between GPCRs and their ligands would improve drug design. Here, we describe an approach that allows the rapid identification of functional agonists expressed in bacteria. Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing the human chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) in nociceptive neurons show avoidance behavior on encounter with the ligand MIP-1alpha and avoid feeding on Escherichia coli expressing MIP-1alpha compared with control bacteria. This system allows a simple activity screen, based on the distribution of transgenic worms in a binary food-choice assay, without a requirement for protein purification or taggi

SUBMITTER: Teng MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2553035 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature