A glial K+/Cl− cotransporter modifies temperature‐evoked dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans sensory neurons. (13th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshida, A.; Nakano, S.; Suzuki, T.; Ihara, K.; Higashiyama, T.; Mori, I.
• Is Part Of: Genes, brain, and behavior. Volume 15:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 440
• Publication Date: 2015-11-13
• Subjects: AFD neuron -- amphid sheath -- behavior -- Caenorhabditis elegans -- glia -- neural circuit -- neuronal activity -- potassium‐chloride cotransporter -- temperature sensing -- thermotaxis; Behavior genetics -- Periodicals; Neurogenetics -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1601-1848

Abstract

Abstract : K + /Cl − cotransporters (KCCs) are known to be crucial in the control of neuronal electrochemical Cl − gradient. However, the role of these proteins in glial cells remains largely unexplored despite a number of studies showing expression of KCC proteins in glial cells of many species. Here, we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans K + /Cl − cotransporter KCC‐3 is expressed in glial‐like cells and regulates the thermosensory behavior through modifying temperature‐evoked activity of a thermosensory neuron. Mutations in the kcc‐3 gene were isolated from a genetic screen for mutants defective in thermotaxis. KCC‐3 is expressed and functions in the amphid sheath glia that ensheathes the AFD neuron, a major thermosensory neuron known to be required for thermotaxis. A genetic analysis indicated that the regulation of the thermosensory behavior by KCC‐3 is mediated through AFD, and we further show that KCC‐3 in the amphid sheath glia regulates the dynamics of the AFD activity. Our results show a novel mechanism by which the glial KCC‐3 protein non‐cell autonomously modifies the stimulus‐evoked activity of a sensory neuron and highlights the functional importance of glial KCC proteins in modulating the dynamics of a neural circuitry to control an animal behavior. Abstract : A potassium‐chloride cotransporter functions in glia and modulates activity of a sensory neuron.