Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Regulates Caenorhabditis elegans Locomotion in Concert With a G_o/G_q Signaling Network

Corresponding author: James H. Thomas, University of Washington, Department of Genetics, Box 357360, Seattle, WA 98195., jht{at}genetics.washington.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: P. ANDERSON

Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion is a complex behavior generated by a defined set of motor neurons and interneurons. Genetic analysis shows that UNC-43, the C. elegans Ca²⁺/calmodulin protein kinase II (CaMKII), controls locomotion rate. Elevated UNC-43 activity, from a gain-of-function mutation, causes severely lethargic locomotion, presumably by inappropriate phosphorylation of targets. In a genetic screen for suppressors of this phenotype, we identified multiple alleles of four genes in a G_o/G_q G-protein signaling network, which has been shown to regulate synaptic activity via diacylglycerol. Mutations in goa-1, dgk-1, eat-16, or eat-11 strongly or completely suppressed unc-43(gf) lethargy, but affected other mutants with reduced locomotion only weakly. We conclude that CaMKII and G_o/G_q pathways act in concert to regulate synaptic activity, perhaps through a direct interaction between CaMKII and G_o.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Dittman and J. M. Kaplan Behavioral Impact of Neurotransmitter-Activated G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: Muscarinic and GABAB Receptors Regulate Caenorhabditis elegans Locomotion J. Neurosci., July 9, 2008; 28(28): 7104 - 7112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Williams, S. Lutz, N. K. Charlie, C. Vettel, M. Ailion, C. Coco, J. J.G. Tesmer, E. M. Jorgensen, T. Wieland, and K. G. Miller Trio's Rho-specific GEF domain is the missing G{alpha}q effector in C. elegans Genes & Dev., November 1, 2007; 21(21): 2731 - 2746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Q. Liu, B. Chen, Q. Ge, and Z.-W. Wang Presynaptic Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Modulates Neurotransmitter Release by Activating BK Channels at Caenorhabditis elegans Neuromuscular Junction J. Neurosci., September 26, 2007; 27(39): 10404 - 10413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Wheeler and J. H. Thomas Identification of a Novel Gene Family Involved in Osmotic Stress Response in Caenorhabditis elegans Genetics, November 1, 2006; 174(3): 1327 - 1336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Suo, Y. Kimura, and H. H. M. Van Tol Starvation Induces cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein-Dependent Gene Expression through Octopamine-Gq Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans J. Neurosci., October 4, 2006; 26(40): 10082 - 10090. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. K. Charlie, M. A. Schade, A. M. Thomure, and K. G. Miller Presynaptic UNC-31 (CAPS) Is Required to Activate the G{alpha}s Pathway of the Caenorhabditis elegans Synaptic Signaling Network Genetics, February 1, 2006; 172(2): 943 - 961. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Afshar, F. S. Willard, K. Colombo, D. P. Siderovski, and P. Gonczy Cortical localization of the G{alpha} protein GPA-16 requires RIC-8 function during C. elegans asymmetric cell division Development, October 15, 2005; 132(20): 4449 - 4459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Schade, N. K. Reynolds, C. M. Dollins, and K. G. Miller Mutations That Rescue the Paralysis of Caenorhabditis elegans ric-8 (Synembryn) Mutants Activate the G{alpha}s Pathway and Define a Third Major Branch of the Synaptic Signaling Network Genetics, February 1, 2005; 169(2): 631 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. K. Reynolds, M. A. Schade, and K. G. Miller Convergent, RIC-8-Dependent G{alpha} Signaling Pathways in the Caenorhabditis elegans Synaptic Signaling Network Genetics, February 1, 2005; 169(2): 651 - 670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Hawasli, O. Saifee, C. Liu, M. L. Nonet, and C. M. Crowder Resistance to Volatile Anesthetics by Mutations Enhancing Excitatory Neurotransmitter Release in Caenorhabditis elegans Genetics, October 1, 2004; 168(2): 831 - 843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Moresco and M. R. Koelle Activation of EGL-47, a G{alpha}o-Coupled Receptor, Inhibits Function of Hermaphrodite-Specific Motor Neurons to Regulate Caenorhabditis elegans Egg-Laying Behavior J. Neurosci., September 29, 2004; 24(39): 8522 - 8530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bandyopadhyay, J. Lee, J. Lee, J. I. Lee, J.-R. Yu, C. Jee, J.-H. Cho, S. Jung, M. H. Lee, S. Zannoni, et al. Calcineurin, a Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Phosphatase, Is Involved in Movement, Fertility, Egg Laying, and Growth in Caenorhabditis elegans Mol. Biol. Cell, September 1, 2002; 13(9): 3281 - 3293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]