Biophysical modeling of the whole-cell dynamics of C. elegans motor and interneurons families

Year: 2024

Authors: Nicoletti M., Chiodo L., Loppini A., Liu Q., Folli V., Ruocco G., Filippi S.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Campus Biomed Roma, Dept Engn, Rome, Italy; Ist Italiano Tecnol, Ctr Life Nano& Neurosci CLN2S Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Univ Campus Biomed Roma, Dept Med & Surg, Rome, Italy; City Univ Hong Kong, Dept Neurosci, Hong Kong, Peoples R China; D tails srl, Rome, Italy; Ist Nazl Ott Consiglio Nazl Ric CNR INO, Florence, Italy; ICRANet Int Ctr Relativist Astrophys Network, Pescara, Italy.

Abstract: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used model organism for neuroscience. Although its nervous system has been fully reconstructed, the physiological bases of single-neuron functioning are still poorly explored. Recently, many efforts have been dedicated to measuring signals from C. elegans neurons, revealing a rich repertoire of dynamics, including bistable responses, graded responses, and action potentials. Still, biophysical models able to reproduce such a broad range of electrical responses lack. Realistic electrophysiological descriptions started to be developed only recently, merging gene expression data with electrophysiological recordings, but with a large variety of cells yet to be modeled. In this work, we contribute to filling this gap by providing biophysically accurate models of six classes of C. elegans neurons, the AIY, RIM, and AVA interneurons, and the VA, VB, and VD motor neurons. We test our models by comparing computational and experimental time series and simulate knockout neurons, to identify the biophysical mechanisms at the basis of inter and motor neuron functioning. Our models represent a step forward toward the modeling of C. elegans neuronal networks and virtual experiments on the nematode nervous system.

Journal/Review: PLOS ONE

Volume: 19 (3)      Pages from: e0298105-1  to: e0298105-25

More Information: M.N, L.C, A.L, S.F. acknowledge the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme under the Research and Innovation Action GA n. 101070546-MUQUABIS, and the IR0000011-EBRAINS-Italy PNRR research infrastructure. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en https://www.mur.gov.it/it/atti-e-normativa/decreti-di-ammissione-al-finanziamento-avviso-3264-del-28-dicembre-2021.
KeyWords: Caenorhabditis-elegans; Touch Sensitivity; Potassium Channel; Action-potentials; Purkinje Neurons; Sensory Neurons; Neural Circuits; Behavior; Currents; Responses
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298105