C. elegans slows its locomotion rate in response to food using either of two distinct slowing mechanisms. When well-fed, C. elegans senses a bacterial lawn (the food source) using mechanosensory cues and requires dopamine signaling for slowing (the basal slowing response). When deprived of food for 30 minutes or more, C. elegans slows to a greater extent upon entry into a bacterial lawn and requires serotonin signaling (the enhanced slowing response). The molecular determinants of the well-fed and food-deprived states and the mechanisms by which animals switch between these states are unknown. Mutagenesis and RNA interference screens for well-fed animals that fail to exhibit normal basal slowing will identify molecules needed for sensory transduction and modulation of dopaminergic signaling. Mutagenesis and RNA interference screens for animals that fail to suppress basal slowing when food-deprived will identify molecules needed to switch between basal and enhanced slowing states. Genetic, molecular, and physiological characterization of molecules identified in these screens will provide insights into dopaminergic modulation of neuronal circuits in an intact nervous system. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
7F32NS056540-03
Application #
7600058
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03B-G (20))
Program Officer
Talley, Edmund M
Project Start
2007-01-17
Project End
2010-09-16
Budget Start
2008-01-17
Budget End
2009-01-16
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$63,526
Indirect Cost
Name
Rutgers University
Department
Type
DUNS #
001912864
City
New Brunswick
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08901
O'Hagan, Robert; Piasecki, Brian P; Silva, Malan et al. (2011) The tubulin deglutamylase CCPP-1 regulates the function and stability of sensory cilia in C. elegans. Curr Biol 21:1685-94