Calcium signaling plays a key role in many cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells, muscle contraction, actin filament disassembly and long term potentiation. One essential component of intracellular calcium dynamics is release of intracellular calcium stores via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs). In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), the IP3R regulates a behavioral rhythm - the periodic contraction of the posterior body wall muscles. The intestine controls the contraction of the overlying muscles in a nonautonomous fashion and intestinal calcium oscillations directly precede the muscle contraction. How the activity of the IP3R within one tissue, the intestine, modulates the activity of another tissue, the muscle, is unknown. This proposal aims to uncover the molecular and cellular basis of the fast, novel signaling cascade initiated by IP3R function in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The following Aims will be addressed.
Specific Aim 1 : Sufficiency and necessity of calcium spike in induction of the posterior body contraction Specific Aim 2: Determination of the spatial and temporal characteristics of calcium dynamics in the intestine Specific Aim 3: Determination of the molecular basis of the signal that directs posterior body contraction . .

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM064222-02
Application #
6701727
Study Section
Cell Development and Function Integrated Review Group (CDF)
Program Officer
Wolfe, Paul B
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
Budget Start
2003-04-01
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$41,608
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Peters, Maureen A; Teramoto, Takayuki; White, Jamie Q et al. (2007) A calcium wave mediated by gap junctions coordinates a rhythmic behavior in C. elegans. Curr Biol 17:1601-8