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      Two neuronal G proteins are involved in chemosensation of the Caenorhabditis elegans Dauer-inducing pheromone.

      Genomics
      Animals, Caenorhabditis elegans, embryology, genetics, physiology, Chemoreceptor Cells, GTP-Binding Proteins, Larva, Neurons, Pheromones

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          Abstract

          Caenorhabditis elegans uses chemosensation to determine its course of development. Young larvae can arrest as dauer larvae in response to increasing population density, which they measure by a nematodeexcreted pheromone, and decreasing food supply. Dauer larvae can resume development in response to a decrease in pheromone and increase in food concentration. We show here that two novel G protein alpha subunits (GPA-2 and GPA-3) show promoter activity in subsets of chemosensory neurons and are involved in the decision to form dauer larvae primarily through the response to dauer pheromone. Dominant activating mutations in these G proteins result in constitutive, pheromone-independent dauer formation, whereas inactivation results in reduced sensitivity to pheromone, and, under certain conditions, an alteration in the response to food. Interactions between gpa-2, gpa-3 and other genes controlling dauer formation suggest that these G proteins may act in parallel to regulate the neuronal decision making that precedes dauer formation.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          9055081
          1207856

          Chemistry
          Animals,Caenorhabditis elegans,embryology,genetics,physiology,Chemoreceptor Cells,GTP-Binding Proteins,Larva,Neurons,Pheromones

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