The worm protein “clarinet” helps orchestrate the signals between nerve cells and their targets

What is it about?

Nerve cells release chemicals that transmit information throughout the brain and body, to control our thoughts and behavior. When this process goes awry, neurological problems can occur. Here we investigated how a recently discovered worm protein clarinet, contributes to the organization and function of this neurotransmission process. We found changes in the levels of several key proteins, partially explaining why mutant worms lacking clarinet have release defects.

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Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The worms used in this study have relatively simple nervous systems, and are accessible to different experimental approaches. Importantly, almost all of the proteins involved in neurotransmitter release in worms have counterparts in humans and other animals. Thus, the results of this study offer new insights into how neurotransmission might be regulated in other organisms, such as ourselves