Two Neuronal G Proteins are Involved in Chemosensation of the Caenorhabditis elegans Dauer-Inducing Pheromone

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) 1997-03, Vol.145 (3), p.715-727
• Main Authors: Zwaal, R. R, Mendel, J. E, Sternberg, P. W, Plasterk, RHA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans - embryology; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology; Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology; Genetics; GTP-Binding Proteins - genetics; GTP-Binding Proteins - physiology; Investigations; Larva - physiology; Molecular biology; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Pheromones - physiology; Proteins
• ISSN: 0016-6731; 1943-2631; 1943-2631
• DOI: 10.1093/genetics/145.3.715

Caenorhabditis elegans uses chemosensation to determine its course of development. Young larvae can arrest as dauer larvae in response to increasing population density, which they measure by a nematodeexcreted pheromone, and decreasing food supply. Dauer larvae can resume development in response to a decrease in pheromone and increase in food concentration. We show here that two novel G protein alpha subunits (GPA-2 and GPA-3) show promoter activity in subsets of chemosensory neurons and are involved in the decision to form dauer larvae primarily through the response to dauer pheromone. Dominant activating mutations in these G proteins result in constitutive, pheromone-independent dauer formation, whereas inactivation results in reduced sensitivity to pheromone, and, under certain conditions, an alteration in the response to food. Interactions between gpa-2, gpa-3 and other genes controlling dauer formation suggest that these G proteins may act in parallel to regulate the neuronal decision making that precedes dauer formation.