Investigating the Role of a Cation Channel-like Protein NCA-1 in Regulating Synaptic Activity and Development in Caenorhabditis elegans

NCA-1 (putative nematode calcium channel) and NCA-2 are two cation channel-like proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans that function redundantly to regulate locomotion through unknown mechanisms. A recent study from our lab showed that in vivo Ca2+ imaging analyses of egg-laying neurons in nca-1 loss- and gain-of-function mutants implicate that NCA channels regulate Ca2+ flux at synapses, without affecting Ca2+ dynamics in neuron somas. Furthermore, we observed that NCA-1 localizes to non-synaptic region along axons, strongly suggesting that NCA channels propagate electrical signals from cell bodies to synapses. To identify molecular components that function in the nca-1 genetic pathway, I performed a genetic suppressor screen that led to the identification of behavioral suppressors of nca-1 gain-of-function mutant. Possible NCA auxiliary subunits, UNC-79 (uncoordinated) and UNC-80, were identified from this screen. Molecular characterization of other suppressors will help to identify other regulators and downstream signaling components through which NCA channels transmit electrical signals.MAS