Figure 2.
unc-86 affects specific genes in the serotonergic neurons. (A-F) Effects of
unc-86 on the expression of the
cat-1 monoamine vesicular transporter. Expression of an integrated
cat-1::gfp fusion gene was examined in wild type,
unc-86-null and
tph-1 mutants. (A,B) In wild-type, this functional
cat-1 fusion to GFP was specifically expressed in all predicted serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons; representative expression in the serotonergic NSM, HSN, dopaminergic PDE neurons and the nerve ring is shown. (C,D) In
unc-86 mutants, GFP expression in HSN was completely absent, and in NSM was significantly reduced. However, unlike
tph-1::gfp (Fig. 1),
cat-1::gfp expression in NSM was not completely absent (C). Note the
unc-86 mutants had extra PDE neurons (D) (Finney and Ruvkun, 1990) expressing
cat-1::gfp. (E,F) In the serotonin synthesis mutant
tph-1(
mg280),
cat-1::gfp levels in NSM and other neurons were indistinguishable from wild-type. (G,H) Expression of a GFP fusion to the F32G8.6 GTP-cyclohydrolase 1, gtpch-1::gfp, in wild-type (G) and
unc-86 mutant (H) animals. In wild-type animals, GFP was observed in all predicted serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons, as well as in the head and body wall muscles (arrowhead). Except for the absence of GFP in HSN (arrowhead in H), the expression levels in
unc-86 mutants were very similar to wild type. All animals shown are adults, and the anterior is to the left.