2026-09-19T06:11:10Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/409572022-01-13T07:54:15Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131022
H. Robert Horvitz.
Gustafson, Megan Alyse
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biology.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology
2008-03-27T18:28:44Z
2008-03-27T18:28:44Z
2007
2007
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40957
213078324
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 2007.
Includes bibliographical references.
Wild-type animals that have been acutely food deprived slow their locomotory rate upon encountering bacteria more than do well-fed animals. This behavior, called the enhanced slowing response, is partly serotonin (5-HT) dependent. Animals mutant for the 5-HT reuptake transporter gene mod-5 slow even more than wild-type animals because endogenous 5-HT activity is potentiated. This behavior, called the hyperenhanced slowing response, can be suppressed by mutations in genes that encode proteins important for 5-HT signaling, like the 5-HT receptor encoded by mod-1 and the Ga subunit of a G protein encoded by goa-1. This ability to suppress indicates that these genes likely act downstream of or in parallel to one or more 5-HT synapse(s) that mediate(s) the enhanced slowing response. To find genes that play a role in 5-HT signaling, we screened for suppressors of the 5-HT hypersensitivity of mod-5. We found at least seven alleles of goa-i and at least two alleles of mod-1. This shows that our screen is able to target genes that play a role in endogenous 5-HT signaling. We identified two alleles of the FMRFamide-encoding gene fp-1, which was known to mediate paralysis in exogenous 5-HT. We showed that loss-of-function mutations in flp-1 confer an enhanced slowing response defect. We also identified an allele of abts-1, which encodes a bicarbonate transporter, and showed that it has defects in cholinergic signaling. We identified three mutants that show linkage to LG I, four to II, three to V and one to X, most of which display defects consistent with a role in 5-HT signaling.
(cont.) We used a candidate gene approach to find that deletions in ser-4, which encodes a metabotropic 5-HT receptor, confer 5-HT resistance. ser-4 acts redundantly with the ionotropic 5-HT receptor mod-1 to suppress the hyperenhanced slowing response of mod-5. Our genetic analysis suggests that ser-4 acts in a pathway with goa-1, in parallel to mod-1. We found that the enhanced slowing response defect of flp-1 is primarily due to its defect in transmitting a 5-HT signal and that flp-1 likely acts downstream of ser-4 and mod-1.
by Megan Alyse Gustafson.
Ph.D.
121, [6] leaves
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Biology.
Serotonin signaling in C. elegans
Serotonin signaling in Cerevisiae elegans
Thesis
application/pdf
false
Publication
unknown
unknown
<Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="56d1d8ca-12f1-4f4d-bb39-015ca507fae4">
<Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type>
<Language>eng</Language>
<Title>Serotonin signaling in C. elegans</Title>
<Subtitle>Serotonin signaling in Cerevisiae elegans</Subtitle>
<PublishedIn>
<Publication>
</Publication>
</PublishedIn>
<PublicationDate>2007</PublicationDate>
<Authors>
<Author>
<DisplayName>Gustafson, Megan Alyse</DisplayName>
<Affiliation>
<OrgUnit>
</OrgUnit>
</Affiliation>
</Author>
</Authors>
<Editors>
</Editors>
<Publishers>
<Publisher>
<DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName>
<OrgUnit />
</Publisher>
</Publishers>
<License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License>
<Keyword>Biology.</Keyword>
<Abstract>Wild-type animals that have been acutely food deprived slow their locomotory rate upon encountering bacteria more than do well-fed animals. This behavior, called the enhanced slowing response, is partly serotonin (5-HT) dependent. Animals mutant for the 5-HT reuptake transporter gene mod-5 slow even more than wild-type animals because endogenous 5-HT activity is potentiated. This behavior, called the hyperenhanced slowing response, can be suppressed by mutations in genes that encode proteins important for 5-HT signaling, like the 5-HT receptor encoded by mod-1 and the Ga subunit of a G protein encoded by goa-1. This ability to suppress indicates that these genes likely act downstream of or in parallel to one or more 5-HT synapse(s) that mediate(s) the enhanced slowing response. To find genes that play a role in 5-HT signaling, we screened for suppressors of the 5-HT hypersensitivity of mod-5. We found at least seven alleles of goa-i and at least two alleles of mod-1. This shows that our screen is able to target genes that play a role in endogenous 5-HT signaling. We identified two alleles of the FMRFamide-encoding gene fp-1, which was known to mediate paralysis in exogenous 5-HT. We showed that loss-of-function mutations in flp-1 confer an enhanced slowing response defect. We also identified an allele of abts-1, which encodes a bicarbonate transporter, and showed that it has defects in cholinergic signaling. We identified three mutants that show linkage to LG I, four to II, three to V and one to X, most of which display defects consistent with a role in 5-HT signaling.</Abstract>
<Abstract>(cont.) We used a candidate gene approach to find that deletions in ser-4, which encodes a metabotropic 5-HT receptor, confer 5-HT resistance. ser-4 acts redundantly with the ionotropic 5-HT receptor mod-1 to suppress the hyperenhanced slowing response of mod-5. Our genetic analysis suggests that ser-4 acts in a pathway with goa-1, in parallel to mod-1. We found that the enhanced slowing response defect of flp-1 is primarily due to its defect in transmitting a 5-HT signal and that flp-1 likely acts downstream of ser-4 and mod-1.</Abstract>
<Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right"
>
</Access>
</Publication>