Nematode nervous systems

authors: William Schafer
doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.044

CITATION

Schafer, W. (2016). Nematode nervous systems. Current Biology, 26(20), R955–R959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.044

ABSTRACT

fleeting notes

belong to the same clade as arthropods & tardigrades
C. elegans
- hermaphroditic microbivore
- first to have genome sequenced
- complete cellular connectome

somatosensory neurons along the body
302 neurons
- reproducible position, morphology, cell lineage, and connectivity
conservation of nervous system and structure in nematode species
phylogeny of nematodes
behaviors adapt to divergent environments despite small, simple nervous systems
nematode neurons lack action potentials
ion channel families are more diverse in c elegans genome than humans
GPCRs are more diverse in c elegans - 1300 in worms 800 in humans
- expansion in nematode lineage
nematode neuropeptide system is complex
feed forward motif is highly represented in the connectome
- oen neuron sends synaptic output to target directly and indirectly through a third neuron
features rich clubs - highly connected hubs
- important for long range signaling