Expression of a CIC chloride channel in Caenorhabditis elegans gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic neurons

In this study, we report the complete cDNA sequence, genomic organization a nd expression pattern of the Caenorhabditis elegans CIC chloride channel ge ne, clh-6. Two different types of reporter gene fusions suggest that clh-6 expression is restricted to two gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic RME neurons. These results are in striking contrast with the wide tissue distribution of messenger RNA for the related mammalian isoforms, CIC-6 a nd CIC-7. The re stricted expression pattern of clh-6 provides a unique opportunity to study the biological function of a neuronal CIC chloride channel. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.