Abstract
In a genetic screen for active zone defective mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans, we isolated a loss-of-function allele of unc-7, a gene encoding an innexin/pannexin family gap junction protein. Innexin UNC-7 regulates the size and distribution of active zones at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions. Loss-of-function mutations in another innexin, UNC-9, cause similar active zone defects as unc-7 mutants. In addition to presumptive gap junction localizations, both UNC-7 and UNC-9 are also localized perisynaptically throughout development and required in presynaptic neurons to regulate active zone differentiation. Our mosaic analyses, electron microscopy, as well as expression studies suggest a novel and likely nonjunctional role of specific innexins in active zone differentiation in addition to gap junction formations.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / ultrastructure
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Connexins / genetics
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Connexins / physiology
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Connexins / ultrastructure
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Gap Junctions / genetics
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Gap Junctions / physiology
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Gap Junctions / ultrastructure
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Male
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure
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Organisms, Genetically Modified
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Presynaptic Terminals / physiology
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Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Connexins
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Membrane Proteins
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Unc-7 protein, C elegans
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Unc-9 protein, C elegans