Neuroligin-deficient mutants of C. elegans have sensory processing deficits and are hypersensitive to oxidative stress and mercury toxicity

• Published in: Disease models & mechanisms Vol. 3; no. 5-6; pp. 366 - 376
• Main Authors: Hunter, Jerrod W, Mullen, Gregory P, McManus, John R, Heatherly, Jessica M, Duke, Angie, Rand, James B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Company of Biologists Ltd 01.05.2010; The Company of Biologists Limited
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animals; Autism; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biomarkers - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans - cytology; Caenorhabditis elegans - drug effects; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - chemistry; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - deficiency; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - genetics; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - metabolism; Cues; Genes; Genes, Reporter; Genomes; Humans; Localization; Mammals; Mercury - toxicity; Muscle Cells - cytology; Muscle Cells - drug effects; Muscle Cells - metabolism; Mutation; Mutation - genetics; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Protein Transport - drug effects; Proteins; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism; Sensation - drug effects; Sensory perception; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Synapses - drug effects; Synapses - metabolism; Temperature; Worms
• ISSN: 1754-8403; 1754-8411
• DOI: 10.1242/dmm.003442

Neuroligins are postsynaptic cell adhesion proteins that bind specifically to presynaptic membrane proteins called neurexins. Mutations in human neuroligin genes are associated with autism spectrum disorders in some families. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has a single neuroligin gene (nlg-1), and approximately a sixth of C. elegans neurons, including some sensory neurons, interneurons and a subset of cholinergic motor neurons, express a neuroligin transcriptional reporter. Neuroligin-deficient mutants of C. elegans are viable, and they do not appear deficient in any major motor functions. However, neuroligin mutants are defective in a subset of sensory behaviors and sensory processing, and are hypersensitive to oxidative stress and mercury compounds; the behavioral deficits are strikingly similar to traits frequently associated with autism spectrum disorders. Our results suggest a possible link between genetic defects in synapse formation or function, and sensitivity to environmental factors in the development of autism spectrum disorders.