A. Worms expressing α-synuclein:RFP ubiquitously do not show an accelerated loss of dopamine neurons. B,C. In contrast, ubiquitous expression of α-synuclein does cause dopaminergic neurodegeneration in pdr-1 and pink-1 mutants. D,E. As in the WT background, α-synuclein expression throughout the body does not increase neuronal loss in djr-1.1;1.2 or catp-6 worms. The expression of α-synuclein does not decrease crawling speed on solid agar plates (F), but does decrease the rate of movement in liquid (G), and induce deficits in dopamine-dependent behavior as measured by basal slowing (H).
Peft-3::α-syn:RFP worms are indicated as asyn:RFP. Error bars indicate SEM. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.