Page 69 - Q. Neuroscience

Identify the function of mechanosensitive channel PEZO-1 in C. elegans males

Jihye Cho, and Kyuhyung Kim
< Ray identity >
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Korea

Abstract PIEZO channels are newly identified mechanosensitive ion channels that confer calcium response to mechanical stimuli (Bai X et al.,

2020). C. elegans genome has a single PIEZO gene, pezo-1, which encodes 14 isoforms. However, the function of PEZO-1 in C. elegans has not been explored yet. To
examine its function, we first grouped 14 isoforms into short or long isoforms depending on the mRNA length and observed their expression patterns. We found that
th
the promoter region of short isoforms is expressed in several tail neurons, including the 6 ray neurons of C. elegans males. Nine pairs of male ray neurons appear to
have functional specialization and have been implicated to be involved in mating behavior (Zhang H, Yue X, Cheng H, et al., 2018). Interestingly, sensory endings of
ray 6 neurons, but not other ray neurons, are not exposed to the external environment (Sulston and Horvitz, 1977), suggesting a distinct role in mechanotransduction
during C. elegans mating. We are currently examining the contribution of PEZO-1 to mating behavior in males.

Introduction
The 18 ray sensilla involved in mating behavior
Piezo ion channel is activated by pressure contain the sensory endings of two distinct neurons, type A and B.
①
- Evolutionarily conserved gene from human to C. elegans
; Piezo1 and Piezo2
- Expressed in numerous tissues
; intestine, brain, heart, lung, etc. Contact / Response
- Activated by membrane stretch and pressure ② ③
Costeet al., Science (2010),Jing et al., Nature (2014),
Lee et al., PNAS (2014), Ranade et al., PNAS (2014),
Gudipaty et al., Nature (2017), etc.
pezo-1 encodes 14 isoforms in C. elegans Scanning Turning
Long isoform
promoter region
The sensory endings of ray 6 are not exposed to the environment.
Short isoform
promoter region
lsk51
2kb
Results

pezo-1 is differentially expressed in hermaphrodites and males
pezo-1p(s)::gfp
Referred from Wormbook
tail
pezo-1 mutant males appear to display normal progeny production.
head
60 150
40 100
hermaphrodite male
pezo-1 is expressed in several tail neurons in males Male 20 Total progeny 50
pezo-1p(s)::gfp
n=9~10
0 0
him-5 him-5;lsk51 him-5 him-5;lsk51
Future plans
- Investigate response, scanning and turning behavior of pezo-1 mutants
- Measure R6A, and R6B calcium activity of pezo-1 mutants
Dorsal view
- Investigate which interneurons mediate the mechanotransduction of mating behavior
pezo-1 is strongly expressed in the 6th ray neurons and the rays
References
pezo-1p(S)::gfp DiI pezo-1p(S)::gfp 1. Costeet al., Piezo1 and Piezo2 Are Essential Components of Distinct Mechanically Activated Cation Channels. Science. (2010)
2. Liu, K.S et al., Sensory regulation of male mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neuron. (1995)
3. Koo et al., The Robustness of Caenorhabditis elegans Male Mating Behavior Depends on the Distributed Properties of Ray Sensory Neurons and Their Output
through Core and Male-Specific Targets. J Neurosci. (2011)
R6B R6A
4. Zhang at al., OSM-9 and an amiloride-sensitive channel, but not PKD-2, are involved in mechanosensation in C. elegans male ray neurons. Sci Rep. (2018)
6 th rays
5 K. Kim lab
4
Dr. Kyuhyung Kim Woochan Choi Hyeonjeong Hwang
3 Do-Young Kim Jimin Kim
2
1 Woojung Heo Seo young Kim
YongJin Cheon Semin Hwangbo
CGC Kyeong Min Moon Ok Hwa Kim
Dorsal view Dorsal view
NBRP Yeon-Ji Park