Actin-interacting protein 1 (AIP1) is a conserved WD-repeat protein that enhances actin filament disassembly only in the presence of actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, an AIP1 ortholog is encoded by the unc-78 gene that is required for organized assembly of muscle actin filaments. We produced bacterially expressed UNC-78 protein and found that it ...

The UNC-4 homeoprotein and the Groucho-like corepressor UNC-37 specify synaptic choice in the Caenorhabditis elegans motor neuron circuit. In unc-4 mutants, VA motor neurons are miswired with inputs from interneurons normally reserved for their lineal sisters, the VB motor neurons. Here we show that UNC-4 and UNC-37 function together in VA motor neurons to repress VB-specific genes and that thi...

An important aspect of the specification of neuronal fate is the choice of neurotransmitter. In Caenorhabditis elegans the neurotransmitter GABA is synthesized by the UNC-25 glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and packaged into synaptic vesicles by the UNC-47 transporter. Both unc-25 and unc-47 are expressed in 26 GABAergic neurons of five different types. Previously, we have identified that the ...

Kinesin-1 is a heterotetramer composed of kinesin heavy chain (KHC) and kinesin light chain (KLC). The Caenorhabditis elegans genome has a single KHC, encoded by the unc-116 gene, and two KLCs, encoded by the klc-1 and klc-2 genes. We show here that UNC-116/KHC and KLC-2 form a complex orthologous to conventional kinesin-1. KLC-2 also binds UNC-16, the C. elegans JIP3/JSAP1 JNK-signaling scaffo...

Ionotropic GABA receptors generally require the products of three subunit genes. By contrast, the GABA receptor needed for locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans requires only the unc-49 gene. We cloned unc-49 and demonstrated that it possesses an unusual overlapping gene structure. unc-49 contains a single copy of a GABA receptor N terminus, followed by three tandem copies of a GABA receptor C t...

The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-13, unc-18, and unc-64 genes are required for normal synaptic transmission. The UNC-18 protein binds to the unc-64 gene product C. elegans syntaxin (Ce syntaxin). However, it is not clear how this protein complex is regulated. We show that UNC-13 transiently interacts with the UNC-18-Ce syntaxin complex, resulting in rapid displacement of UNC-18 from the complex. ...

UNC-6/Netrin is an evolutionarily conserved, secretory axon guidance molecule. In Caenorhabditis elegans, UNC-6 provides positional information to the axons of developing neurons, probably by establishing a concentration gradient from the ventral to the dorsal side of the animal. Although the proper localization of UNC-6 is important for accurate neuronal network formation, little is known abou...

The netrin guidance cue, UNC-6, and the netrin receptors, UNC-5 and UNC-40, guide SDQR cell and axon migrations in C. elegans. In wild-type larvae, SDQR migrations are away from ventral UNC-6-expressing cells, suggesting that UNC-6 repels SDQR. In unc-6 null larvae, SDQR migrations are towards the ventral midline, indicating a response to other guidance cues that directs the migrations ventrall...

Kinesin-1 is a heterotetramer composed of kinesin heavy chain (KHC) and kinesin light chain (KLC). The Caenorhabditis elegans genome has a single KHC, encoded by the unc-116 gene, and two KLCs, encoded by the klc-1 and klc-2 genes. We show here that UNC-116/KHC and KLC-2 form a complex orthologous to conventional kinesin-1. KLC-2 also binds UNC-16, the C. elegans JIP3/JSAP1 JNK-signaling scaffo...

1. The unc-49 gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans encodes three gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor subunits. Two of these, UNC-49B and UNC-49C, are expressed at high abundance and co-localize at the neuromuscular junction. 2. The UNC-49B subunit is sufficient to form a GABA(A) receptor in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, all loss-of-function unc-49 alleles lack functional ...