HEN-1, a Secretory Protein with an LDL Receptor Motif, Regulates Sensory Integration and Learning in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Published in: Cell Vol. 109; no. 5; pp. 639 - 649
• Main Authors: Ishihara, Takeshi, Iino, Yuichi, Mohri, Akiko, Mori, Ikue, Gengyo-Ando, Keiko, Mitani, Shohei, Katsura, Isao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 31.05.2002
• Subjects: Amino Acid Motifs - genetics; Animals; Bodily Secretions - physiology; Caenorhabditis elegans - cytology; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - isolation & purification; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Learning - physiology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - isolation & purification; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Nervous System - cytology; Nervous System - growth & development; Nervous System - metabolism; Neural Pathways - cytology; Neural Pathways - growth & development; Neural Pathways - metabolism; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Neuropeptides - deficiency; Neuropeptides - genetics; Phenotype; Phylogeny; Receptors, LDL - chemistry; Receptors, LDL - genetics; Sensation - genetics; Signal Transduction - genetics
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00748-1

Animals sense many environmental stimuli simultaneously and integrate various sensory signals within the nervous system both to generate proper behavioral responses and also to form relevant memories. HEN-1, a secretory protein with an LDL receptor motif, regulates such processes in Caenorhabditis elegans. The hen-1 mutants show defects in the integration of two sensory signals and in behavioral plasticity by paired stimuli, although their sensation capability seems to be identical to that of the wild-type. The HEN-1 protein is expressed in two pairs of neurons, but expression in other neurons is sufficient for wild-type behavior. In addition, expression of HEN-1 at the adult stage is sufficient. Thus, HEN-1 regulates sensory processing non-cell-autonomously in the mature neuronal circuit.