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Vol. 16, Issue 9, 3978-3986, September 2005

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Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Signaling Regulates Mating Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans Males

Nicholas J. D. Gower ^*  , Denise S. Walker ^* , and Howard A. Baylis ^*

^* Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Laboratory of Receptor Signaling, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, United Kingdom

Submitted February 4, 2005; Revised May 11, 2005; Accepted June 3, 2005
Monitoring Editor: Martin Chalfie

Complex behavior requires the coordinated action of the nervous system and nonneuronal targets. Male mating in Caenorhabditis elegans consists of a series of defined behavioral steps that lead to the physiological outcomes required for successful impregnation. We demonstrate that signaling mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP³) is required at several points during mating. Disruption of IP₃ receptor (itr-1) function results in dramatic loss of male fertility, due to defects in turning behavior (during vulva location), spicule insertion and sperm transfer. To elucidate the signaling pathways responsible, we knocked down the six C. elegans genes encoding phospholipase C (PLC) family members. egl-8, which encodes PLC-, functions in spicule insertion and sperm transfer. itr-1 and egl-8 are widely expressed in the male reproductive system. An itr-1 gain-of-function mutation rescues infertility caused by egl-8 RNA interference, indicating that egl-8 and itr-1 function together as central components of the signaling events controlling sperm transfer.

Abbreviations used: IP₃, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate; IP₃R, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor; PLC, phospholipase C; GFP, green fluorescent protein; ACh, acetylcholine; RNAi, RNA-mediated interference.

The online version of this article contains supplemental material at MBC Online (http://www.molbiolcell.org).

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Address correspondence to: Howard A. Baylis (hab{at}mole.bio.cam.ac.uk).

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