@article {528711, title = {DBL-1, a TGF-beta, is essential for Caenorhabditis elegans aversive olfactory learning}, journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A}, volume = {109}, number = {42}, year = {2012}, note = {

Zhang, XiaodongZhang, YunengR01 DC009852/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t2012/09/29 06:00Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 16;109(42):17081-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205982109. Epub 2012 Sep 26.

}, month = {Oct 16}, pages = {17081-6}, abstract = {

The TGF-beta superfamily is conserved throughout metazoan, and its members play essential roles in development and disease. TGF-beta has also been implicated in adult neural plasticity. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we report that DBL-1, a Caenorhabditis elegans TGF-beta homolog known to control body morphology and immunity, is essential for aversive olfactory learning of potentially harmful bacteria food. We show that DBL-1 generated by the AVA command interneurons, which are critical for sensorimotor responses, regulates aversive olfactory learning, and that the activity of the type I TGF-beta receptor SMA-6 in the hypodermis is needed during adulthood to generate olfactory plasticity. These spatial and temporal mechanisms are critical for the DBL-1 signaling to achieve its diverse functions in development and adult neural plasticity. Interestingly, aversive training decreases AVA calcium response, leading to an increase in the DBL-1 signal secreted from AVA, revealing an experience-dependent change that can underlie the role of TGF-beta signaling in mediating plasticity.

}, keywords = {Animals, Avoidance Learning/*physiology, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/*metabolism, Caenorhabditis elegans/*physiology, Interneurons/metabolism, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Neuronal Plasticity/physiology, Neuropeptides/*metabolism, Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism, Smell/*physiology, Transforming Growth Factor beta/*metabolism}, isbn = {1091-6490 (Electronic)0027-8424 (Linking)}, author = {* Zhang, X. and Zhang, Y.} }