A recent study, published in Development (DOI: 10.1242/dev.202955), led by Dr. DING Mei from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered a new way neurons form electrical synapses, known as gap junctions. These connections are crucial for synchronized brain activity, but the exact mechanisms behind their formation between specific neurons have long been a mystery.
The research used the nervous system of the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. With its nearly mapped neural network, this simple organism provides a unique opportunity to study how neurons connect in a living system. By combining fluorescence labeling with advanced genetic analysis, the team identified a gene called cfi-1 that plays a key role in regulating gap junction formation. cfi-1 encodes a conserved transcription factor, known as ARID3 in humans. When cfi-1 was mutated, gap junction formation between PVC and PVR neurons was specifically affected. Interestingly, the cfi-1 gene is expressed in PVC neurons but not in PVR neurons. Reducing cfi-1 activity in PVC neurons led to an increase in gap junctions in PVR neurons. Conversely, artificially activating cfi-1 in PVR neurons reduced the formation of gap junctions. This demonstrates that either neuron in the pair can influence the connection process. PVC neurons are involved in the worm’s ability to respond to touch at its tail. Increasing cfi-1 expression in PVR neurons restored the posterior touch response defect caused by the absence of cfi-1, underscoring the role of electrical connections in shaping neural circuits and behavior.
Together, this discovery sheds light on the complex molecular processes that govern how neurons connect in living organisms. It could open new doors for understanding brain function and developing treatments for neurological disorders.
Figure: Gap junction connections between PVC and PVR neurons in wild type and cfi-1mutant animals. (Image by IGDB)
Contact:
Dr. DING Mei
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Email: mding@genetics.ac.cn
CAS
中文
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Figure: Gap junction connections between PVC and PVR neurons in wild type and cfi-1mutant animals. (Image by IGDB)Contact:Dr. DING MeiInstitute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesEmail: mding@genetics.ac.cn