Bargmann C (2024) Neuron "Cori Bargmann."

Bargmann C

[Neuron, 2024]

In an interview with Neuron, Cori Bargmann discusses C. elegans as a model organism, the importance of considering the animal's own world (thinking like a worm), choosing a scientific problem, and her experience as head of science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and co-chair of the BRAIN Initiative.

Bargmann C (2000) Neurobiol Dis "Simple organisms."

Bargmann C

[Neurobiol Dis, 2000]

How are researchers now able to study the complex human genome with such insight and accuracy? The answer lies in nearly a century of research with very simple organisms: the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which is about 1/8 in. in size, and the roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans, about the size of a comma on this page.

Bargmann C (2013) Biotechniques "The big in-between. Interview by Kristie Nybo."

Bargmann C

[Biotechniques, 2013]

Cori Bargmann's studies of olfaction and her work on the connections between neural circuits, genes, and behavior caught our attention. Curious to know more, BioTechniques contacted her to find out about the ambition, character, and motivation that led to her success.

Bargmann, C (2005) Nature "Genomics reaches the synapse."

Bargmann, C

[Nature, 2005]

Bargmann C (2005) Curr Biol "Neuroscience: comraderie and nostalgia in nematodes."

Bargmann C

[Curr Biol, 2005]

Two recent papers on social rearing and olfactory imprinting show that early developmental experiences can lead to long-lasting changes in behaviour of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Bargmann C et al. (2002) Cell "Accolade for elegans."

Hodgkin J, Bargmann C

[Cell, 2002]

In 1963, Sydney Brenner, one of the founders of molecular biology, had reached an intellectual impasse. He felt that there were few advances left in that field that would have the significance of the discovery of mRNA and the elucidation of the genetic code, both of which he had participated in, and in any case with so many Americans joining in, the chemical details of replication and so forth would all be worked out soon. Brenner thought large thoughts, and the questions that were left seemed too

Bargmann, C. (2019) International Worm Meeting "Organizing behavior across timescales."

Bargmann, C.

[International Worm Meeting, 2019]

Abstract unavailable

Bargmann C et al. (2014) Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol "A Conversation with Cori Bargmann."

Bargmann C, Witkowski J

[Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, 2014]

CI Bargmann (1999) International C. elegans Meeting "Imaging of neuronal activity in olfactory circuits in C. elegans"

CI Bargmann

[International C. elegans Meeting, 1999]

timyu@cgl.ucsf.edu We are interested in studying the neural circuits underlying chemotaxis behavior in C. elegans . To this end, we are attempting to image neuronal activity in intact worms using cameleons -- fluorescent indicators, based on spectral variants of GFP and calmodulin, that allow ratiometric imaging of calcium concentrations (Miyawaki et al, Nature 388 882). To work out the best conditions for this experiment, we have attempted to record calcium changes in body wall muscle during locomotion. Under control of the myo-3 promoter, yellow cameleon-2 is abundantly expressed in body wall muscle. Dual-emission wavelength imaging of myo-3::ycam2 worms during sinusoidal locomotion reveals ratio ( F535/F480 ) increases in body wall muscle preceding muscle contraction, consistent with calcium increases during excitation-contraction coupling. Initial attempts to express yellow cameleon-2 in chemosensory neurons resulted in low levels of expression, even when injected at high concentrations. We therefore engineered worm-optimized yellow cameleons by interrupting cameleon coding sequences with artificial C. elegans introns. Addition of five introns to yellow cameleon resulted in a robust increase in expression as assayed under the mec-7 promoter. Currently, we are expressing our modified yellow cameleon-2 in AWA, AWB and AWC, chemosensory neurons that have been shown to mediate attraction or repulsion from a variety of volatile odorants. The sensory transduction channels in these neurons are predicted to allow calcium entry after odorant stimulation. Progress on recording calcium changes in response to odorant application will be described.

Cornelia I. Bargmann (2006) WormBook "Chemosensation in C. elegans."

Cornelia I. Bargmann

[WormBook, 2006]

C. elegans has a highly developed chemosensory system that enables it to detect a wide variety of volatile (olfactory) and water-soluble (gustatory) cues associated with food, danger, or other animals. Much of its nervous system and more than 5% of its genes are devoted to the recognition of environmental chemicals. Chemosensory cues can elicit chemotaxis, rapid avoidance, changes in overall motility, and entry into and exit from the alternative dauer developmental stage. These behaviors are regulated primarily by the amphid chemosensory organs, which contain eleven pairs of chemosensory neurons. Each amphid sensory neuron expresses a specific set of candidate receptor genes and detects a characteristic set of attractants, repellents, or pheromones. About 500-1000 different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed in chemosensory neurons, and these may be supplemented by alternative sensory pathways as well. Downstream of the GPCRs, two signal transduction systems are prominent in chemosensation, one that uses cGMP as a second messenger to open cGMP-gated channels, and one that relies upon TRPV channels. These sensory pathways are modulated and fine-tuned by kinases and phosphatases. Chemosensory preferences can be modified by sensory adaptation, developmental history, and associative learning, allowing C. elegans to integrate context and experience into its behavior.