A neurotransmitter atlas of the nervous system of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.95402.1
• Publication Date: 2024-03-20T11:25:05Z
• Authors: Chen Wang; Berta Vidal; Surojit Sural; Daniel M. Merritt; Itai Antoine Toker; Merly C. Vogt; Cyril Cros; Oliver Hobert
• Keywords: Neurotransmitter Systems

Assigning neurotransmitter identity to neurons is key understanding information flow in a nervous system. It also provides valuable entry points for studying the development and plasticity of neuronal features. Neurotransmitter identities have been assigned most C. elegans system through expression pattern analysis pathway genes that encode biosynthetic enzymes or transporters. However, many these assignments relied on multicopy reporter transgenes may lack relevant cis -regulatory therefore not provide an accurate picture usage. We analyzed patterns 13 CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock-in strains, which report deployment all main types neurotransmitters (glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, tyramine, octopamine) throughout entire both hermaphrodite male. Our reveals novel sites systems within glia defines be exclusively neuropeptidergic. Furthermore, we identified unusual combinations monoaminergic synthesis genes, suggesting existence transmitters. results what constitutes extensive system-wide map usage date, paving way better communication .