Action potentials contribute to neuronal signaling in C. elegans
Open accessAbstract
Small, high-impedance neurons with short processes, similar to those found in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, are predicted to transmit electrical signals by passive propagation. However, we have found that certain neurons in C. elegans fire regenerative action potentials. These neurons resembled Schmitt triggers, as their potential state appears to be bistable. Transitions between up and down states could be triggered by application of the neurotransmitter glutamate or brief current pulses.
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The neural model can reproduce qualitatively the range of electrophysiological properties observed so far in C. elegans neurons.
“Our neural model has the capacity to reproduce qualitatively the range of electrophysiological properties observed so far in C. elegans neurons (Lockery & Goodman, 2009; Mellem et al., 2008) (Figure 3).”
From Potential role of a ventral nerve cord central pattern generator in forward and backward locomotion in<i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (2018) · cites this paper as Mellem et al., 2008
If a dorsal core is present in the worm, then AS is likely to be a bistable motorneuron, but not DA or DB.
“If a dorsal core is present in the worm, then our model suggests AS is likely to be a bistable motorneuron (Mellem et al., 2008), but not DA or DB.”
From Potential role of a ventral nerve cord central pattern generator in forward and backward locomotion in<i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (2018) · cites this paper as Mellem et al., 2008
Biophysically, self-connections can be interpreted as the voltage dependence of inward currents underlying the graded regenerative potentials that are characteristic of several C. elegans neurons, including the neck motor neurons.
“Biophysically, self-connections can be interpreted as the voltage dependence of inward currents underlying the graded regenerative potentials that are characteristic of several C. elegans neurons, including the neck motor neurons [48], [84].”
From Connecting a Connectome to Behavior: An Ensemble of Neuroanatomical Models of C. elegans Klinotaxis (2013) · cites this paper as [84]
RMD neurons have a short time scale estimated to be ≤10 ms, making it reasonable to model B-class neurons as instantaneous.
“Given the short time scale of RMD neurons, which we estimate to be ≤10 ms (see Figure 2 of Mellem et al., 2008), it is reasonable to model these neurons as instantaneous.”
From Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model (2012) · cites this paper as Mellem et al., 2008
The finding of bistable motoneurons with discrete membrane potential states suggests that motor control circuits may be modeled as a network of binary motoneurons with hysteresis.
“In particular, the finding of bistable motoneurons with discrete membrane potential states (Mellem et al., 2008) suggests that motor control circuits may be modeled as a network of binary motoneurons with hysteresis.”
From Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model (2012) · cites this paper as Mellem et al., 2008
The binary model simplification approximates the behavior of RMD neurons as reported in Mellem et al. (2008).
“This simplification approximates the behavior of RMD neurons as reported in Mellem et al. (2008).”
From Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model (2012) · cites this paper as Mellem et al., 2008
Cites
Active Currents Regulate Sensitivity and Dynamic Range in C. elegans Neurons
Goodman, M. B., Hall, D. H., Avery, L., & Lockery, S. R. (1998) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)81014-4 · Cited by 370 · see citing works
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Action potentials drive body wall muscle contractions in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
Gao, S., & Zhen, M. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1012346108 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model
Boyle, J. H., Berri, S., & Cohen, N. (2012) · Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncom.2012.00010 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
“Given the short time scale of RMD neurons, which we estimate to be ≤10 ms (see Figure 2 of Mellem et al., 2008), it is reasonable to model these neurons as instantaneous.”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialEvolution and Analysis of Minimal Neural Circuits for Klinotaxis in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
Izquierdo, E. J., & Lockery, S. R. (2010) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2606-10.2010 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Connecting a Connectome to Behavior: An Ensemble of Neuroanatomical Models of C. elegans Klinotaxis
Izquierdo, E. J., & Beer, R. D. (2013) · PLoS Computational Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002890 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
“elegans neurons, neuromodulation, and the relationship between contact number and strength of interaction [48], [69], [84], [85], more biophysically-grounded neural models can be employed.”
BackgroundMethodThe quest for action potentials in C. elegans neurons hits a plateau
Lockery, S. R., & Goodman, M. B. (2009) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn0409-377 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Izquierdo, E. J., & Beer, R. D. (2018) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2017.0374 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Olivares, E. O., Izquierdo, E. J., & Beer, R. D. (2018) · Network Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/netn_a_00036 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“Following electrophysiological studies in C. elegans (Lockery & Goodman, 2009; Mellem et al., 2008) and previous modeling efforts (Izquierdo & Beer, 2013; Izquierdo & Lockery, 2010), motorneurons were modeled as isopotential nodes with the ability to produce regenerative responses, according to the…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialAn integrative data-driven model simulating C. elegans brain, body and environment interactions
Zhao, M., Wang, N., Jiang, X., Ma, X., Ma, H., He, G., Du, K., Ma, L., & Huang, T. (2024) · Nature Computational Science · doi:10.1038/s43588-024-00738-w · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“8b), AVA (Mellem et al. 37 , fig.”
InfluentialAwal, M. R., Austin, D., Florman, J., Alkema, M., Gabel, C. V., & Connor, C. W. (2018) · Anesthesiology · doi:10.1097/aln.0000000000002342 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
- Authors
- Mellem, J. E., Brockie, P. J., Madsen, D. M., & Maricq, A. V.
- Affiliations
- University of Utah (US)
- Corresponding author
- Maricq, Andres V
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2008-06-29
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 865-867
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- PMC
- PMC2697921
- OpenAlex
- W2026753216
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS035812, NS 35812)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
- Keywords
- action potential, Caenorhabditis elegans, neuronal signaling, Schmitt trigger, glutamate, electrical signal transmission
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Calcium, Electric Stimulation, Feedback, Ion Channels, Ions, Neural Conduction, Neurons, Sodium, Stimulation, Chemical, Caenorhabditis elegans, Receptors, AMPA, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Glutamic Acid, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Animals, Genetically Modified, Green Fluorescent Proteins
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