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C. elegans pp 175–192Cite as

Electrophysiological Analysis of Neuronal and Muscle Function in C. elegans

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 351))

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides numerous experimental advantages for the identification and characterization of genes required for the function of the nervous system. These advantages include forward and reverse genetic tractability, a relatively simple body plan with an invariant cellular lineage, and a fully sequenced and well-annotated genome. However, one limitation of C. elegans is the relative scarcity of electrophysiological data from excitable cells. To address this limitation, high-resolution cellular techniques for probing the roles of specific gene products in the C. elegans nervous system have been recently developed. This chapter will provide an overview of the technical requirements for patch-clamp electrophysiological analysis of C. elegans neurons and muscle cells, as well as provide some illustrative examples of insights gained from the pairing of electrophysiological techniques with molecular and genetic analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmentof Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

    Michael M. Francis & Andres Villu Maricq

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  1. Michael M. Francis
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  2. Andres Villu Maricq
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

    Kevin Strange

  2. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

    Kevin Strange

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

    Kevin Strange

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc.

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Francis, M.M., Maricq, A.V. (2006). Electrophysiological Analysis of Neuronal and Muscle Function in C. elegans . In: Strange, K. (eds) C. elegans. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 351. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-151-7:175

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-151-7:175

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-597-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-151-2

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