Figure 2.
flp-13 Is Expressed in the ALA Neuron and Is Required for ALA-Induced Quiescence (A) The gene
flp-13 encodes for a preproproteinthat is processed into seven distinct neuropeptides, FLP-13-FLP-13g, each of which is amidated at the C terminus. The
tm2427 deletion removes all of exon 2, which results in a frame shift mutation. ''ss'' denotes signal sequence. (B)
flp-13 is expressed in the ALA neuron. mCherry is expressed under the control of the
flp-13 promoter, and GFP is expressed in the ALA neuron under the control of the
ida-1 promoter. (C) Overexpression of LIN-3/EGF in the wild-type genetic background results in a feeding quiescence phenotype 2 hr after induction of the
lin-3 transgene. In the
flp-13(
tm2427) background, fewer animals are quiescent during
lin-3 overexpression (n = 18-20 worms per trial, four trials; ***p < 0.0005, Student's t test).
flp-13 expressed in ALA using the
ida-1 promoter restores the ability of LIN-3 to induce quiescence (n = 21 animals per trial, two trials; ***p < 0.0005, Student's t test). (D)
flp-13(
tm2427) mutation impairs the suppression of locomotion (left) and feeding (right) caused by activating ChR2 in the ALA neuron with blue light in the presence of ATR (n = 10 animals per condition; *p < 0.05 **p < 0.005, Wilcoxon rank-sum test comparing initial red to blue and initial red to finalred conditions).Error bars indicate the SEM. See also Figure S2 and Table S1.