Vanessa Vermeirssen et al. (2005) International Worm Meeting "Transcription regulatory networks controlling the development and function of amphid sensory neurons in C. elegans"

Lynn Doucette-Stamm, Reynaldo Sequerra, AJ Marian Walhout, Jenny Babon, Piali Sengupta, Vanessa Vermeirssen

[International Worm Meeting, 2005]

The amphid is the major olfactory and gustatory organ in C. elegans and consists of 11 pairs of chemosensory and 1 pair of thermosensory neurons. Each of these neurons exhibits a specific function, morphology and behavioral response. These characteristics are believed to be acquired via a specific developmental gene expression program. While certain transcription factors are known to determine the final individual cell fate and function of sensory neurons, the transcription regulatory networks that control the correct gene expression of these transcription factors remain largely unidentified. In order to map these transcription regulatory networks, we aim to elucidate at a systems biology level which transcription factors regulate the spatial and temporal expression of the sensory neuronal transcription factor genes. To this end, we performed protein-DNA interactions between promoters of transcription factor genes and transcription factors via a Gateway-compatible yeast one-hybrid system. We found 44 transcription factors in wormbase known to be expressed at least in one of the amphid neurons or interneurons at a certain stage of development. The promoters of these transcription factor genes are screened in the yeast one-hybrid system against a cDNA library and a transcription factor library. So far, the data obtained already show a couple of interesting network motifs, which reveal how the transcription of sensory neuronal transcription factor genes is regulated and connected. Further progress will be presented. This study will not only gain a better understanding of the developmental program of the amphid sensory neurons, but also of neuronal development in general.