Open AccessA glial K + /Cl − cotransporter modifies temperature‐evoked dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans sensory neurons
Author(s) -
Yoshida A.,
Nakano S.,
Suzuki T.,
Ihara K.,
Higashiyama T.,
Mori I.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
genes, brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1601-183X
pISSN - 1601-1848
DOI - 10.1111/gbb.12260
Subject(s) - cotransporter , caenorhabditis elegans , biology , neuron , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , neuroglia , sensory neuron , nervous system , sensory system , central nervous system , gene , genetics , chemistry , sodium , organic chemistry
K + /Cl − cotransporters ( KCCs ) are known to be crucial in the control of neuronal electrochemical Cl − gradient. However, the role of these proteins in glial cells remains largely unexplored despite a number of studies showing expression of KCC proteins in glial cells of many species. Here, we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans K + /Cl − cotransporter KCC ‐3 is expressed in glial‐like cells and regulates the thermosensory behavior through modifying temperature‐evoked activity of a thermosensory neuron. Mutations in the kcc‐3 gene were isolated from a genetic screen for mutants defective in thermotaxis. KCC ‐3 is expressed and functions in the amphid sheath glia that ensheathes the AFD neuron, a major thermosensory neuron known to be required for thermotaxis. A genetic analysis indicated that the regulation of the thermosensory behavior by KCC ‐3 is mediated through AFD , and we further show that KCC ‐3 in the amphid sheath glia regulates the dynamics of the AFD activity. Our results show a novel mechanism by which the glial KCC ‐3 protein non‐cell autonomously modifies the stimulus‐evoked activity of a sensory neuron and highlights the functional importance of glial KCC proteins in modulating the dynamics of a neural circuitry to control an animal behavior.