The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-63 gene encodes a levamisole-sensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit

J Biol Chem. 2004 Oct 8;279(41):42476-83. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M404370200. Epub 2004 Jul 27.

Abstract

The anthelmintic drug levamisole causes hypercontraction of body wall muscles and lethality in nematode worms. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a genetic screen for levamisole resistance has identified 12 genes, three of which (unc-38, unc-29, and lev-1) encode nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits. Here we describe the molecular and functional characterization of another levamisole-resistant gene, unc-63, encoding a nAChR alpha subunit with a predicted amino acid sequence most similar to that of UNC-38. Like UNC-38 and UNC-29, UNC-63 is expressed in body wall muscles. In addition, UNC-63 is expressed in vulval muscles and neurons. We also show that LEV-1 is expressed in body wall muscle, thus overlapping the cellular localization of UNC-63, UNC-38, and UNC-29 and suggesting possible association in vivo. This is supported by electrophysiological studies on body wall muscle, which demonstrate that a levamisole-sensitive nAChR present at the C. elegans neuromuscular junction requires both UNC-63 and LEV-1 subunits. Thus, at least four subunits, two alpha types (UNC-38 and UNC-63) and two non-alpha types (UNC-29 and LEV-1), can contribute to levamisole-sensitive muscle nAChRs in nematodes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antinematodal Agents / pharmacology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / chemistry*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Electrophysiology
  • Levamisole / pharmacology*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / physiology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Antinematodal Agents
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Unc-63 protein, C elegans
  • Levamisole

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AAK83056