NALCN Channels Are Not Major targets of Gα o or Gα q Modulation in the C. elegans Egg-Laying Behavior Circuit

Abstract

Sodium leak channels (NALCN) are regulators of cell membrane potential. Previous studies in mammalian neurons and C. elegans have shown that Gα _q and Gα _o signaling antagonistically modulates NALCN activity to regulate neuron excitability and neurotransmitter release for behavior. Here, we test whether NALCNs mediate the effects of Gα _q and/or Gα _o signaling in the C. elegans egg-laying circuit. We find that while gain-of-function NALCN mutants exhibit hyperactive egg-laying behavior, NALCNs are not required for the effects of Gα _q or Gα _o signaling for egg laying. These results show that NALCNs are not major effectors of G-protein signaling for C. elegans egg-laying behavior.