Abstract
Gap junctions are widespread in immature neuronal circuits, but their functional significance is poorly understood. We show here that a transient network formed by the innexin gap-junction protein NSY-5 coordinates left-right asymmetry in the developing nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. nsy-5 is required for the left and right AWC olfactory neurons to establish stochastic, asymmetric patterns of gene expression during embryogenesis. nsy-5-dependent gap junctions in the embryo transiently connect the AWC cell bodies with those of numerous other neurons. Both AWCs and several other classes of nsy-5-expressing neurons participate in signaling that coordinates left-right AWC asymmetry. The right AWC can respond to nsy-5 directly, but the left AWC requires nsy-5 function in multiple cells of the network. NSY-5 forms hemichannels and intercellular gap-junction channels in Xenopus oocytes, consistent with a combination of cell-intrinsic and network functions. These results provide insight into gap-junction activity in developing circuits.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Body Patterning / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
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Caenorhabditis elegans / ultrastructure
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / isolation & purification
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
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Calcium Signaling / physiology
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Cell Communication / physiology
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Connexins / genetics
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Connexins / isolation & purification
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Connexins / metabolism*
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Functional Laterality / physiology
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Gap Junctions / metabolism
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nerve Net / embryology*
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Nerve Net / metabolism
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Nerve Net / ultrastructure
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Nervous System / embryology*
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Nervous System / metabolism
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Nervous System / ultrastructure
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Neurons / ultrastructure
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Olfactory Pathways / embryology
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Olfactory Pathways / metabolism
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Olfactory Pathways / ultrastructure
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Connexins
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Membrane Proteins
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inx-19 protein, C elegans
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unc-2 protein, C elegans