Cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels control numerous, diverse cellular processes including gene expression, exocytosis and secretion, motility and contraction, cell proliferation, programmed cell death, and differentiation. While physiologists have gained an impressive understanding of Ca2+ signaling events, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. The nematode C. elegans provides numerous experimental advantages for defining molecular mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling. These advantages include relative ease and economy of manipulating gene expression by RNA interference, knockout and transgenesis;ready availability of numerous molecular reagents and mutant worm strains;a fully sequenced and well-annotated genome;and the ability to perform mutagenesis and forward genetic analysis. Posterior body wall muscle contraction (pBoc) in C. elegans drives defecation behavior and occurs in rhythmic fashion every 45-50 sec. Genetic analyses have identified numerous genes that, when mutated or knocked down, disrupt pBoc rhythm. These include genes encoding the IP3 receptor, PLC, K+ channels and TRPM cation channels. Physiological and molecular studies have demonstrated that pBoc is driven by rhythmic, IPs-dependent intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in the intestinal epithelium. Recently, we developed primary C. elegans cell culture methods that allow for the first time patch clamp characterization of intestinal cell Ca2+ conductances. In addition, we have developed a novel isolated intestine preparation that allows physiological characterization of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. We will use a combination of Ca2+ imaging, electrophysiology, reverse genetics and immunofluorescence to test the hypothesis that PLC-p and PLC-y, the KCNQ channels KQT-2 and KQT-3, and the TRPM channels GON-2 and GTL-1 function together to regulate intracellular Ca2+ release. We will also use patch clamp electrophysiology and gene knockout to determine if the TRPM-like Ca2+ channel ORCa is encoded by gon-2 and/or gtl-1. The combination of experimental approaches we will use in our studies is substantially more costly and time-consuming, or not realistically possible in vertebrate experimental systems. By defining basic aspects of intestinal Ca2+ signaling, this proposal forms an essential foundation of a long-term effort that will exploit the considerable experimental advantages of C. elegans to develop an integrated molecular understanding of a non-excitable cell oscillatory Ca2+ signaling pathway. Given the fundamental and highly conserved nature of Ca2+ signaling, insights gained from C. elegans will clearly provide new and important insights into vertebrate Ca2+ signaling mechanisms. Detailed molecular understanding of Ca2+ signaling is essential for understanding and treating numerous disease processes including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM074229-04
Application #
7631168
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Program Officer
Shapiro, Bert I
Project Start
2006-06-01
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2009-06-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$108,851
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Xing, Juan; Strange, Kevin (2010) Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and loss of PLCgamma activity inhibit TRPM channels required for oscillatory Ca2+ signaling. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 298:C274-82
Xing, Juan; Yan, Xiaohui; Estevez, Ana et al. (2008) Highly Ca2+-selective TRPM channels regulate IP3-dependent oscillatory Ca2+ signaling in the C. elegans intestine. J Gen Physiol 131:245-55
Strange, Kevin (2008) Authorship: why not just toss a coin? Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 295:C567-75
Strange, Kevin (2007) Revisiting the Krogh Principle in the post-genome era: Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for integrative physiology research. J Exp Biol 210:1622-31
Strange, Kevin; Yan, Xiaohui; Lorin-Nebel, Catherine et al. (2007) Physiological roles of STIM1 and Orai1 homologs and CRAC channels in the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Calcium 42:193-203
Strange, Kevin; Christensen, Michael; Morrison, Rebecca (2007) Primary culture of Caenorhabditis elegans developing embryo cells for electrophysiological, cell biological and molecular studies. Nat Protoc 2:1003-12
Lorin-Nebel, Catherine; Xing, Juan; Yan, Xiaohui et al. (2007) CRAC channel activity in C. elegans is mediated by Orai1 and STIM1 homologues and is essential for ovulation and fertility. J Physiol 580:67-85
Yan, Xiaohui; Xing, Juan; Lorin-Nebel, Catherine et al. (2006) Function of a STIM1 homologue in C. elegans: evidence that store-operated Ca2+ entry is not essential for oscillatory Ca2+ signaling and ER Ca2+ homeostasis. J Gen Physiol 128:443-59