William R Schafer
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View article: An entropic measure of diverse specialization highlights multifunctional neurons in annotated connectomes
An entropic measure of diverse specialization highlights multifunctional neurons in annotated connectomes Open
The creation and curation of synaptic-level neuronal networks, or connectomes, enables the study of the relationship between neuronal structure and function. Topological characteristics of neuronal networks have been studied extensively. S…
View article: Neurons, Muscles, and Venom: Identifying Drivers of Cephalopod Predation
Neurons, Muscles, and Venom: Identifying Drivers of Cephalopod Predation Open
Coleoid cephalopods (octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish) produce venoms in their posterior salivary glands. Despite venom’s importance in cephalopod evolution and ecology, its regulation and secretion processes remain unresolved. Here, we p…
View article: Divergence in neuronal signaling pathways despite conserved neuronal identity among Caenorhabditis species
Divergence in neuronal signaling pathways despite conserved neuronal identity among Caenorhabditis species Open
One avenue to better understand brain evolution is to map molecular patterns of evolutionary changes in neuronal cell types across entire nervous systems of distantly related species. Generating whole-animal single-cell transcriptomes of t…
View article: Novel dopaminergic neurotransmission in the <i>Octopus</i> visual system
Novel dopaminergic neurotransmission in the <i>Octopus</i> visual system Open
Summary Coleoid cephalopods such as the common octopus have a complex visual system, with a camera-type eye and a large optic lobe, that evolved independently from its counterpart in vertebrates. However, the molecular and neurochemical ba…
View article: DeorphaNN: Virtual screening of GPCR peptide agonists using AlphaFold-predicted active-state complexes and deep learning embeddings
DeorphaNN: Virtual screening of GPCR peptide agonists using AlphaFold-predicted active-state complexes and deep learning embeddings Open
Peptide-activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate critical physiological processes such as metabolism, neural signalling, and endocrine function through their interaction with neuropeptides and peptide hormones. Despite their …
View article: Two K2P Channels, TWK-46 and TWK-26 do not affect C. elegans Egg-Laying Behavior
Two K2P Channels, TWK-46 and TWK-26 do not affect C. elegans Egg-Laying Behavior Open
Two-pore domain potassium channels, also known as K2P channels, play vital roles in maintaining the resting membrane potential in excitable cells, affecting a variety of physiological processes across species. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C…
View article: Molecular patterns of evolutionary changes throughout the whole nervous system of multiple nematode species
Molecular patterns of evolutionary changes throughout the whole nervous system of multiple nematode species Open
One avenue to better understand brain evolution is to map molecular patterns of evolutionary changes in neuronal cell types across entire nervous systems of distantly related species. Generating whole-animal single-cell transcriptomes of t…
View article: Constitutive sodium permeability in a <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> two-pore domain potassium channel
Constitutive sodium permeability in a <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> two-pore domain potassium channel Open
Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels play a central role in modulating cellular excitability and neuronal function. The unique structure of the selectivity filter in K2P and other potassium channels determines their ability to allow th…
View article: Neuropeptide signaling network of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>: from structure to behavior
Neuropeptide signaling network of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>: from structure to behavior Open
Neuropeptides are abundant signaling molecules that control neuronal activity and behavior in all animals. Owing in part to its well-defined and compact nervous system, Caenorhabditis elegans has been one of the primary model organisms use…
View article: Constitutive sodium permeability in a<i>C. elegans</i>two-pore domain potassium channel
Constitutive sodium permeability in a<i>C. elegans</i>two-pore domain potassium channel Open
SUMMARY Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels play a central role in modulating cellular excitability and neuronal function. The unique structure of the selectivity filter in K2P and other potassium channels determines their ability to …
View article: The neuropeptidergic connectome of C. elegans
The neuropeptidergic connectome of C. elegans Open
Efforts are ongoing to map synaptic wiring diagrams, or connectomes, to understand the neural basis of brain function. However, chemical synapses represent only one type of functionally important neuronal connection; in particular, extrasy…
View article: Comparing engineered nuclear-localized reporter cassettes
Comparing engineered nuclear-localized reporter cassettes Open
Recent single-cell transcriptome analysis has revealed a tremendous breadth and specificity of neuropeptide-encoding gene expression in the nervous system of C. elegans. To analyze the dynamics of neuropeptide gene expression, as well as t…
View article: Changes in lipid metabolism driven by steroid signalling modulate proteostasis in <i>C. elegans</i>
Changes in lipid metabolism driven by steroid signalling modulate proteostasis in <i>C. elegans</i> Open
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases can be caused by mutations that enhance protein aggregation, but we still do not know enough about the molecular players of these pathways to develop treatments for these devastating disea…
View article: A Novel and Functionally Diverse Class of Acetylcholine-Gated Ion Channels
A Novel and Functionally Diverse Class of Acetylcholine-Gated Ion Channels Open
Fast cholinergic neurotransmission is mediated by acetylcholine-gated ion channels; in particular, excitatory nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play well established roles in virtually all nervous systems. Acetylcholine-gated inhibitory ch…
View article: Neuronally produced betaine acts via a ligand-gated ion channel to control behavioral states
Neuronally produced betaine acts via a ligand-gated ion channel to control behavioral states Open
Trimethylglycine, or betaine, is an amino acid derivative found in diverse organisms, from bacteria to plants and animals, with well-established functions as a methyl donor and osmolyte in all cells. In addition, betaine is found in the ne…
View article: System-wide mapping of neuropeptide-GPCR interactions in<i>C. elegans</i>
System-wide mapping of neuropeptide-GPCR interactions in<i>C. elegans</i> Open
Summary Neuropeptides are ancient, widespread signaling molecules that underpin almost all brain functions. They constitute a broad ligand-receptor network, mainly by binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the organizatio…
View article: The diverse functions of the DEG/ENaC family: linking genetic and physiological insights
The diverse functions of the DEG/ENaC family: linking genetic and physiological insights Open
The DEG/ENaC family of ion channels was defined based on the sequence similarity between degenerins (DEG) from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and subunits of the mammalian epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and also includes a diverse …
View article: The neuropeptidergic connectome of<i>C. elegans</i>
The neuropeptidergic connectome of<i>C. elegans</i> Open
Summary Efforts are currently ongoing to map synaptic wiring diagrams or connectomes in order to understand the neural basis of brain function. However, chemical synapses represent only one type of functionally important neuronal connectio…
View article: Physiological insight into the conserved properties of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> acid‐sensing degenerin/epithelial sodium channels
Physiological insight into the conserved properties of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> acid‐sensing degenerin/epithelial sodium channels Open
Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) are members of the diverse family of degenerin/epithelial sodium channels (DEG/ENaCs). They perform a wide range of physiological roles in healthy organisms, including in gut function and synaptic transmis…
View article: Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>
Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> Open
Sexual dimorphism occurs where different sexes of the same species display differences in characteristics not limited to reproduction. For the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , in which the complete neuroanatomy has been solved for both he…
View article: Distinct roles for two Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock
Distinct roles for two Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock Open
Biological clocks are fundamental to an organism’s health, controlling periodicity of behaviour and metabolism. Here, we identify two acid-sensing ion channels, with very different proton sensing properties, and describe their role in an u…
View article: Author response: Distinct roles for two Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock
Author response: Distinct roles for two Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock Open
Article Figures and data Abstract Editor's evaluation eLife digest Introduction Results Discussion Materials and methods Appendix 1 Data availability References Decision letter Author response Article and author information Metrics Abstrac…
View article: Physiological insight into the conserved properties of<i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>acid-sensing DEG/ENaCs
Physiological insight into the conserved properties of<i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>acid-sensing DEG/ENaCs Open
Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are members of the diverse family of degenerin/epithelial sodium channels (DEG/ENaCs). They perform a wide range of physiological roles in healthy organisms, including in gut function and synaptic transmis…
View article: Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male <i>C. elegans</i>
Neuropeptide signalling shapes feeding and reproductive behaviours in male <i>C. elegans</i> Open
Sexual dimorphism occurs where different sexes of the same species display differences in characteristics not limited to reproduction. For the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , in which the complete neuroanatomy has been solved for both he…
View article: Distinct roles for two <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock
Distinct roles for two <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> acid-sensing ion channels in an ultradian clock Open
Biological clocks are fundamental to an organism’s health, controlling periodicity of behavior and metabolism. Here, we identify two acid-sensing ion channels, with very different proton sensing properties, and describe their role in an ul…