Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion

Cell- or network-driven oscillators underlie motor rhythmicity. The identity of C. elegans oscillators remains unknown. Through cell ablation, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, we show: (1) forward and backward locomotion is driven by different oscillators; (2) the cholinergic and excitatory A...

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Main Authors: Shangbang Gao, Sihui Asuka Guan, Anthony D Fouad, Jun Meng, Taizo Kawano, Yung-Chi Huang, Yi Li, Salvador Alcaire, Wesley Hung, Yangning Lu, Yingchuan Billy Qi, Yishi Jin, Mark Alkema, Christopher Fang-Yen, Mei Zhen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2018-01-01
Series:eLife
Subjects:
Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/29915
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author Shangbang Gao
Sihui Asuka Guan
Anthony D Fouad
Jun Meng
Taizo Kawano
Yung-Chi Huang
Yi Li
Salvador Alcaire
Wesley Hung
Yangning Lu
Yingchuan Billy Qi
Yishi Jin
Mark Alkema
Christopher Fang-Yen
Mei Zhen
author_facet Shangbang Gao
Sihui Asuka Guan
Anthony D Fouad
Jun Meng
Taizo Kawano
Yung-Chi Huang
Yi Li
Salvador Alcaire
Wesley Hung
Yangning Lu
Yingchuan Billy Qi
Yishi Jin
Mark Alkema
Christopher Fang-Yen
Mei Zhen
author_sort Shangbang Gao
collection DOAJ
description Cell- or network-driven oscillators underlie motor rhythmicity. The identity of C. elegans oscillators remains unknown. Through cell ablation, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, we show: (1) forward and backward locomotion is driven by different oscillators; (2) the cholinergic and excitatory A-class motor neurons exhibit intrinsic and oscillatory activity that is sufficient to drive backward locomotion in the absence of premotor interneurons; (3) the UNC-2 P/Q/N high-voltage-activated calcium current underlies A motor neuron’s oscillation; (4) descending premotor interneurons AVA, via an evolutionarily conserved, mixed gap junction and chemical synapse configuration, exert state-dependent inhibition and potentiation of A motor neuron’s intrinsic activity to regulate backward locomotion. Thus, motor neurons themselves derive rhythms, which are dually regulated by the descending interneurons to control the reversal motor state. These and previous findings exemplify compression: essential circuit properties are conserved but executed by fewer numbers and layers of neurons in a small locomotor network.
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spelling doaj.art-62ecbf53feb54087bf1af93b53b2e2c42022-12-22T03:24:42ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2018-01-01710.7554/eLife.29915Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotionShangbang Gao0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5431-4628Sihui Asuka Guan1Anthony D Fouad2Jun Meng3Taizo Kawano4Yung-Chi Huang5Yi Li6Salvador Alcaire7Wesley Hung8Yangning Lu9Yingchuan Billy Qi10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4267-4770Yishi Jin11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9371-9860Mark Alkema12Christopher Fang-Yen13https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4568-3218Mei Zhen14https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0086-9622Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United StatesLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United StatesKey Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, CanadaLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaNeurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, United StatesNeurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, United StatesDepartment of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United StatesDepartment of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United StatesLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaCell- or network-driven oscillators underlie motor rhythmicity. The identity of C. elegans oscillators remains unknown. Through cell ablation, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, we show: (1) forward and backward locomotion is driven by different oscillators; (2) the cholinergic and excitatory A-class motor neurons exhibit intrinsic and oscillatory activity that is sufficient to drive backward locomotion in the absence of premotor interneurons; (3) the UNC-2 P/Q/N high-voltage-activated calcium current underlies A motor neuron’s oscillation; (4) descending premotor interneurons AVA, via an evolutionarily conserved, mixed gap junction and chemical synapse configuration, exert state-dependent inhibition and potentiation of A motor neuron’s intrinsic activity to regulate backward locomotion. Thus, motor neurons themselves derive rhythms, which are dually regulated by the descending interneurons to control the reversal motor state. These and previous findings exemplify compression: essential circuit properties are conserved but executed by fewer numbers and layers of neurons in a small locomotor network.https://elifesciences.org/articles/29915motor neuronrhythmCentral Pattern Generator (CPG)locomotionC. elegansoscillation
spellingShingle Shangbang Gao
Sihui Asuka Guan
Anthony D Fouad
Jun Meng
Taizo Kawano
Yung-Chi Huang
Yi Li
Salvador Alcaire
Wesley Hung
Yangning Lu
Yingchuan Billy Qi
Yishi Jin
Mark Alkema
Christopher Fang-Yen
Mei Zhen
Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
eLife
motor neuron
rhythm
Central Pattern Generator (CPG)
locomotion
C. elegans
oscillation
title Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
title_full Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
title_fullStr Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
title_full_unstemmed Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
title_short Excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
title_sort excitatory motor neurons are local oscillators for backward locomotion
topic motor neuron
rhythm
Central Pattern Generator (CPG)
locomotion
C. elegans
oscillation
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/29915
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