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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Calcium Imaging in Freely Behaving Caenorhabditis elegans with Well-Controlled, Nonlocalized Vibration

Calcium Imaging in Freely Behaving Caenorhabditis elegans with Well-Controlled, Nonlocalized Vibration

Published on: April 29, 2021

A calcium wave mediated by gap junctions coordinates a rhythmic behavior in C. elegans.

Maureen A Peters¹, Takayuki Teramoto, Jamie Q White

¹Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, USA.

Current Biology : CB

|September 11, 2007

Summary

Pannexin gap junctions in C. elegans propagate intercellular calcium waves, which are essential for instructing muscle contractions and regulating pacemaker cell function in the defecation motor program.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Intercellular calcium waves play roles in adult tissues, but their specific functions in behavior are largely unknown.
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits a well-characterized defecation motor program initiated by intestinal calcium waves.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of pannexin gap junctions in the propagation of intestinal calcium waves.
To determine if these calcium waves are instructive for the defecation motor program and pacemaker cell regulation.

Main Methods:

Utilized Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism.
Investigated the function of the pannexin gap-junction subunit INX-16.
Observed calcium wave propagation and muscle contractions in intestinal cells.

Main Results:

Absence of INX-16 disrupted normal calcium wave propagation, leading to absent, slow, or abnormally initiated/directed waves.
Disrupted calcium waves resulted in abnormal muscle contractions, affecting all three steps of the defecation motor program.
Loss of INX-16 also impaired pacemaker cell reliability, causing irregular cycle timing.

Conclusions:

Pannexin gap junctions, specifically INX-16, are crucial for propagating intestinal calcium waves in C. elegans.
These calcium waves are instructive signals that regulate the motor steps of the defecation program.
Calcium waves also play a vital role in maintaining the authority and reliability of the pacemaker cell.