Figure 2.

The elevated locomotor activity and locomotion behavior of kin-2(cau1) are similar to those of twk-7(null) but distinct from the hyperactive phenotype of Gα_q/0 mutant worms. (A) The hyperactive Gα_q/0 mutants goa-1(n1134) and dgk-1(nu62) exhibited similarly increased body-bending crawling frequencies (BBCF), (B) increased crawling velocities, and (C) decreased levels of body-bending swimming frequency (BBSF) compared with the kin-2(cau1) and twk-7(null) animals. The swimming frequencies of Gα_q/0 mutants were even lower than those of wild-type animals. (D) The spontaneous locomotion behavior of hyperactive Gα_q/0 animals is characterized by extended dwelling periods, increased backward movements, and (E) lower straightness rates compared with that of kin-2(cau1) and twk-7(null) animals. f, forward; b, backward; d, dwelling. All values represent the mean (± SEM) of at least N ≥ 3 independent experiments involving n ≥ 30 never-starved animals. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test). Dotted lines indicate the wild-type level. (F) Aldicarb and (G) levamisole sensitivity assays. The percentage of animals that became paralyzed by each drug was monitored over time. All values represent the mean (± SEM) of at least N ≥ 3 independent experiments involving n ≥ 75 never-starved animals. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test).