Gower Nicholas J D, Walker Denise S, Baylis Howard A
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom.
Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Sep;16(9):3978-86. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e05-02-0096. Epub 2005 Jun 15.
Complex behavior requires the coordinated action of the nervous system and nonneuronal targets. Male mating in Caenorhabditis elegans consists of a series of defined behavioral steps that lead to the physiological outcomes required for successful impregnation. We demonstrate that signaling mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) is required at several points during mating. Disruption of IP(3) receptor (itr-1) function results in dramatic loss of male fertility, due to defects in turning behavior (during vulva location), spicule insertion and sperm transfer. To elucidate the signaling pathways responsible, we knocked down the six C. elegans genes encoding phospholipase C (PLC) family members. egl-8, which encodes PLC-beta, functions in spicule insertion and sperm transfer. itr-1 and egl-8 are widely expressed in the male reproductive system. An itr-1 gain-of-function mutation rescues infertility caused by egl-8 RNA interference, indicating that egl-8 and itr-1 function together as central components of the signaling events controlling sperm transfer.
复杂行为需要神经系统和非神经元靶点的协同作用。秀丽隐杆线虫中的雄性交配由一系列明确的行为步骤组成,这些步骤会导致成功受孕所需的生理结果。我们证明,在交配过程中的几个阶段都需要由肌醇-1,4,5-三磷酸(IP(3))介导的信号传导。IP(3)受体(itr-1)功能的破坏会导致雄性生育能力急剧丧失,这是由于转向行为(在外阴定位期间)、交合刺插入和精子转移方面的缺陷所致。为了阐明相关的信号通路,我们敲低了秀丽隐杆线虫中编码磷脂酶C(PLC)家族成员的六个基因。编码PLC-β的egl-8在交合刺插入和精子转移中发挥作用。itr-1和egl-8在雄性生殖系统中广泛表达。itr-1的功能获得性突变可挽救由egl-8 RNA干扰引起的不育,这表明egl-8和itr-1作为控制精子转移的信号事件的核心成分共同发挥作用。