A neurotransmitter atlas of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.95402.3
• Publication Date: 2024-10-18T12:26:13Z
• Authors: Chen Wang; Berta Vidal; Surojit Sural; Curtis Loer; G Robert Aguilar; Daniel M Merritt; Itai Antoine Toker; Merly C Vogt; Cyril C Cros; Oliver Hobert
• Keywords: Monoaminergic; Neurotransmitter Agents; Octopamine (neurotransmitter); Neurotransmitter receptor

Mapping neurotransmitter identities 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 identity features. In Caenorhabditis elegans system, have been largely assigned by 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 16 CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock-in strains all main types neurotransmitters C. (glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, dopamine, tyramine, octopamine) both hermaphrodite male. Our reveals novel sites systems within glia, as well non-neural cells, most notably gonadal cells. The resulting atlas defines be exclusively neuropeptidergic, substantially expands repertoire capable co-transmitting multiple neurotransmitters, identifies monoaminergic uptake. Furthermore, we observed unusual co-expression synthesis genes, suggesting existence transmitters. results what constitutes extensive whole-animal-wide map usage date, paving way better communication specification .