John McKenna et al. (2006) Neuronal Development, Synaptic Function, and Behavior Meeting "Biological Effects of Neuropeptide DYRPLQFamide in Ascaris suum."

Dianne Witek, Antony Stretton, John McKenna

[Neuronal Development, Synaptic Function, and Behavior Meeting, 2006]

The nlp-12 transcript of C. elegans (Nathoo et al, 2001) encodes 3 or 4 predicted peptides. There is strong conservation of related sequences in other nematodes, including A. suum, and the predicted peptides DGYRPLQFamide, SYRPLQFamide, pQDRDYRPLQFamide and DYRPLQFamide have been detected in A. suum by mass spectrometry (Yew et al, 2005). An antibody specific to the QFamide family stains 3 head neurons and 2 ventral cord interneurons. Each of these peptides produces a ventral coil when injected into intact A. suum (see Reinitz et al, 2000), so the tension of the ventral muscles must exceed that of the dorsal muscles. This response might be due to differences in the relative sensitivity of dorsal and of ventral muscles to these neuropeptides. Alternatively it might be due to specific effects on selected neurons of the motor nervous system. In experiments on dissected muscle strips, prior to the application of the neuropeptide, acetylcholine was applied to the muscle strip as a control to ensure the muscle strip was functioning within normal parameters. DYRPLQFa was then applied to individual ventral and dorsal muscle strips. Upon completion of the neuropeptide tests, ACh was applied again to determine whether the contractile response to ACh had been affected by the peptide. Both the ventral and dorsal muscle strips contract upon application of DYRPLQFa, and there was no statistical difference between them. These results did not explain the ventral coil produced by this peptide in the intact worm. Similar results were obtained by McVeigh et. al. (2006). In these experiments the dorsoventral commissures were cut in order to isolate each muscle strip; it is possible that the dorsoventral signaling mediated by the commissures may play a role in the overall activity of this neuropeptide in A. suum. Therefore further experiments are being conducted using muscle strips which contain both the dorsal and ventral muscle strips but leaving selected commissures intact.

Plenefisch JD et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Cloning mua-3: Some Observations on the New Molecular Era"

Plenefisch JD, Hedgecock EM

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

Cloning mua-3: some observations on the new Molecular Era John Plenefisch and Edward Hedgecock, Dept. of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD 21218

Parham C et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Tc4 and Tc5: What Makes Them Move and Why It Matters"

Beinhorn J, Collins JJ, Butze K, Parham C

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

Tc4 and Tc5: what makes them move and why it matters Christi Parham, Kristie Butze, Joanna Beinhorn and John Collins. Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Hampshire. Durham, NH 03824

Almeida CA et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Function of a Domain of the Myosin Heavy Chain Implicated in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy"

Collins JJ, Almeida CA, Swift KE

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

Function of a Domain of the Myosin Heavy Chain Implicated in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Craig A. Almeida, Kerry E. Swift and John J. Collins Department of Biochemistry and Molecular, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03820

Chalfie M (1993) J Neurobiol "Touch receptor development and function in Caenorhabditis elegans."

Chalfie M

[J Neurobiol, 1993]

Mutations causing a touch-insensitive phenotype in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been the basis of studies on the specification of neuronal cell fate, inherited neurodegeneration, and the molecular nature of mechanosensory transduction. (C) 1993 John Wiley & sons, Inc.

Maine EM et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "Mutations That Enhance glp-1 Identify Genes Required For Various Aspects of Germline Development."

Gelber MB, Smardon AM, Shu P, Qiao L, Maine EM, Lissemore JL

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

Mutations that enhance glp-1 identify genes required for various aspects of germline development. Eleanor Maine, Li Qiao, Jim Lissemore-, Pei Shu, Anne Smardon, and Melanie Gelber. Biology Dept., Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244 and Biology Dept., John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH 44118.

Chalfie M (1998) Nature "Genome sequencing. The worm revealed."

Chalfie M

[Nature, 1998]

In 1983, John Sulston and Alan Coulson began to construct a complete physical map of the genome of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, and started what became known as the C. elegans Genome Project. At the time, several people wondered why John, who had just described all of the cell divisions in C. elegans (the cell lineage), was interested in this project rather than in a more 'biological' problem. He replied by joking that he had a "weakness for grandiose, meaningless projects". In 1989, as the physical map approached completion, the Genome Project, now including Bob Waterston and his group, embarked on the even more ambitious goal of obtaining the complete genomic sequence

Hotez PJ et al. (1993) Parasitol Today "Hookworm larval infectivity, arrest and amphiparatenesis: the Caenorhabditis elegans Daf-c paradigm."

Hotez PJ, Schad GA, Hawdon JM

[Parasitol Today, 1993]

Arrested development dramatically alters the life history of some species of soil-transmitted nematodes and elicits profound variations in the epidemiology of the infections they cause. Here, Peter Hotez, John Hawdon and Gerhard Schad show how an understanding of the cellular and molecular bases of arrested development may lead to new approaches for the control of ancylostomiasis and related infections.

Waterston RH et al. J Neurogenet "John Sulston (1942-2018): a personal perspective."

Waterston RH, Moerman DG

[J Neurogenet]

John Sulston changed the way we do science, not once, but three times - initially with the complete cell lineage of the nematode <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>, next with completion of the genome sequences of the worm and human genomes and finally with his strong and active advocacy for open data sharing. His contributions were widely recognized and in 2002 he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.

Chalfie M J Neurogenet "A touching story."

Chalfie M

[J Neurogenet]

A slide taped to a window at the Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory was my first introduction to the touch receptor neurons of the nematode <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. Studying these cells as a postdoc with Sydney Brenner gave me a chance to work with John Sulston on a fascinating set of neurons. I would never have guessed then that 43 years later I would still be excited about learning their secrets.