G. Cassata et al., The LIM homeobox gene ceh-14 confers thermosensory function to the AFD neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, NEURON, 25(3), 2000, pp. 587-597
In Caenorhabditis elegans three pairs of neurons, AFD, AIY, and AIZ, play a
key role in thermosensation. The LIM homeobox gene ceh-14 is expressed in
the AFD thermosensory neurons. ceh-14 mutant animals display athermotactic
behaviors, although the neurons are still present and differentiated. Two o
ther LIM homeobox genes, ttx-3 and lin-11, function in the two interneurons
AIY and AIZ, respectively. Thus, the three key thermosensory neurons are s
pecified by three different LIM homeobox genes. ceh-14 ttx-3 lin-11 triple
mutant animals have a basic cryophilic thermotaxis behavior indicative of a
second thermotaxis pathway. Misexpression of ceh-14 in chemosensory neuron
s can restore thermotactic behavior without impairing the chemosensory func
tion. Thus, ceh-14 confers thermosensory function to neurons.