Identification of interneurons required for the aversive response of Caenorhabditis elegans to graphene oxide

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Guosheng Xiao¹  Natalia Krasteva²  Dayong Wang³  He Chen³  Qizhan Liu⁴ 

[1] College of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University;Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Science;Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School, Southeast University;School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University;

关键词: Graphene oxide;    NLG-1/neuroligin;    Aversive behavior;    Interneurons;    Caenorhabditis elegans;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12951-018-0373-y

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background So far, how the animals evade the environmental nanomaterials is still largely unclear. In this study, we employed in vivo assay system of Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the aversive behavior of nematodes to graphene oxide (GO) and the underlying neuronal basis. Results In this assay model, we detected the significant aversive behavior of nematodes to GO at concentrations more than 50 mg/L. Loss-of-function mutation of nlg-1 encoding a neuroligin with the function in connecting pre- and post-synaptic neurons suppressed the aversive behavior of nematodes to GO. Moreover, based on the neuron-specific activity assay, we found that the NLG-1 activity in AIY or AIB interneurons was required for the regulation of aversive behavior to GO. The neuron-specific activities of NLG-1 in AIY or AIB interneurons were also required for the regulation of GO toxicity. Conclusions Using nlg-1 mutant as a genetic tool, we identified the AIY and AIB interneurons required for the regulation of aversive behavior to GO. Our results provide an important neuronal basis for the aversive response of animals to environmental nanomaterials.

【 授权许可】

Unknown