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Genetics

Title:		Cell excitability necessary for male mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans is coordinated by interactions between big current and ether-a-go-go family K(+) channels
Author(s):		LeBoeuf B; Garcia LR;
Address:		"Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA"
Journal Title:		Genetics
Year:		2012
Volume:		20111214
Issue:		3
Page Number:		1025 - 1041
DOI:		10.1534/genetics.111.137455
ISSN/ISBN:		1943-2631 (Electronic) 0016-6731 (Print) 0016-6731 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Variations in K(+) channel composition allow for differences in cell excitability and, at an organismal level, provide flexibility to behavioral regulation. When the function of a K(+) channel is disrupted, the remaining K(+) channels might incompletely compensate, manifesting as abnormal organismal behavior. In this study, we explored how different K(+) channels interact to regulate the neuromuscular circuitry used by Caenorhabditis elegans males to protract their copulatory spicules from their tail and insert them into the hermaphrodite's vulva during mating. We determined that the big current K(+) channel (BK)/SLO-1 genetically interacts with ether-a-go-go (EAG)/EGL-2 and EAG-related gene/UNC-103 K(+) channels to control spicule protraction. Through rescue experiments, we show that specific slo-1 isoforms affect spicule protraction. Gene expression studies show that slo-1 and egl-2 expression can be upregulated in a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-dependent manner to compensate for the loss of unc-103 and conversely, unc-103 can partially compensate for the loss of SLO-1 function. In conclusion, an interaction between BK and EAG family K(+) channels produces the muscle excitability levels that regulate the timing of spicule protraction and the success of male mating behavior"
Keywords:		Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/*physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/*metabolism Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels/genetics/*metabolism Female Food Deprivation Gene Expression Gene Expression Regulation Gene Order Large-Conductance Calcium-A;
Notes:		"MedlineLeBoeuf, Brigitte Garcia, L Rene eng Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/12/17 Genetics. 2012 Mar; 190(3):1025-41. doi: 10.1534/genetics.111.137455. Epub 2011 Dec 14"