[Molecular neurogenetics of sensory behaviors in the hematode C. elgans]

The molecular mechanisms of neural plasticity, learning and memory are still poorly understood. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is capable of responding to a variety of environmental changes through its nervous system, consisting of only 302 neurons. C. elegans is an ideal model organism to elucidate neural plasticity, learning and memory at molecular, cellular and neuronal network levels. Thermotaxis behavior is particularly amenable to dissect learning and memory at all these levels. After cultivation at a certain temperature with food, C. elegans migrates to the cultivation temperature on a temperature gradient. By contrast, cultivation in food-deprived condition induces cultivation temperature avoidance behavior on a temperature gradient. We have been conducting forward as well as reverse genetic approaches to identify molecules, neurons and neuronal networks that are responsible for aspects of learning and memory in thermotaxis behavior.