Intercellular calcium signaling in a gap junction-coupled cell network establishes asymmetric neuronal fates in C. elegans

Development. 2012 Nov;139(22):4191-201. doi: 10.1242/dev.083428.

Abstract

The C. elegans left and right AWC olfactory neurons specify asymmetric subtypes, one default AWC(OFF) and one induced AWC(ON), through a stochastic, coordinated cell signaling event. Intercellular communication between AWCs and non-AWC neurons via a NSY-5 gap junction network coordinates AWC asymmetry. However, the nature of intercellular signaling across the network and how individual non-AWC cells in the network influence AWC asymmetry is not known. Here, we demonstrate that intercellular calcium signaling through the NSY-5 gap junction neural network coordinates a precise 1AWC(ON)/1AWC(OFF) decision. We show that NSY-5 gap junctions in C. elegans cells mediate small molecule passage. We expressed vertebrate calcium-buffer proteins in groups of cells in the network to reduce intracellular calcium levels, thereby disrupting intercellular communication. We find that calcium in non-AWC cells of the network promotes the AWC(ON) fate, in contrast to the autonomous role of calcium in AWCs to promote the AWC(OFF) fate. In addition, calcium in specific non-AWCs promotes AWC(ON) side biases through NSY-5 gap junctions. Our results suggest a novel model in which calcium has dual roles within the NSY-5 network: autonomously promoting AWC(OFF) and non-autonomously promoting AWC(ON).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Calbindins
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling*
  • Cell Communication
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Connexins / metabolism*
  • Gap Junctions / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Olfactory Pathways
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / cytology
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / metabolism*
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Calbindins
  • Connexins
  • Ion Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein G
  • inx-19 protein, C elegans
  • unc-2 protein, C elegans
  • Calcium