Regulation of serotonin biosynthesis by the G proteins Galphao and Galphaq controls serotonin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Genetics
Jessica E TanisM R Koelle

Abstract

To analyze mechanisms that modulate serotonin signaling, we investigated how Caenorhabditis elegans regulates the function of serotonergic motor neurons that stimulate egg-laying behavior. Egg laying is inhibited by the G protein Galphao and activated by the G protein Galphaq. We found that Galphao and Galphaq act directly in the serotonergic HSN motor neurons to control egg laying. There, the G proteins had opposing effects on transcription of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene tph-1, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin biosynthesis. Antiserotonin staining confirmed that Galphao and Galphaq antagonistically affect serotonin levels. Altering tph-1 gene dosage showed that small changes in tph-1 expression were sufficient to affect egg-laying behavior. Epistasis experiments showed that signaling through the G proteins has additional tph-1-independent effects. Our results indicate that (1) serotonin signaling is regulated by modulating serotonin biosynthesis and (2) Galphao and Galphaq act in the same neurons to have opposing effects on behavior, in part, by antagonistically regulating transcription of specific genes. Galphao and Galphaq have opposing effects on many behaviors in addition to egg laying and may genera...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 23, 2011·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Jeong-Eui LeeYoung-Ki Paik
Apr 3, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Mustapha Moussaif, Ji Ying Sze
Aug 14, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Jessica E TanisMichael R Koelle
Aug 13, 2011·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Catherine Hofler, Michael R Koelle
Nov 16, 2012·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Lesley EmtageNiels Ringstad
Jan 11, 2013·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Kevin M Collins, Michael R Koelle
Dec 15, 2015·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Brantley D ColemanMikel Garcia-Marcos
Mar 12, 2016·Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry·Eri TeshibaHiroyuki Takeya
Aug 1, 2012·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Pei-Chun L HsuMark R H Hurst
Jul 28, 2016·Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine·Li HuangDaniela Raicu
Oct 19, 2016·Biotechnology Advances·Lauren A E ErlandPraveen K Saxena
Dec 19, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Fernando CalahorroVincent O'Connor
Oct 21, 2020·ELife·Nicole K LittlejohnSupriya Srinivasan
May 19, 2021·G3 : Genes - Genomes - Genetics·Santosh KumarMichael R Koelle

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