Type: Interneuron
In MoW: AVA
Male Wiring Project: AVAL, AVAR
In Wormbase: AVA, AVAL, AVAR
Lineage: AB alppaaapa, AB alaappapa
Location: Lateral ganglia of head
Description: One of four bilaterally symmetric interneuron pairs (AVA, AVB, AVD, and PVC) with large-diameter axons that run the entire length of the ventral nerve cord and provide input to the ventral cord motor neurons. Synapse onto A-type (VA, DA) and AS motor neurons. Formerly called alpha.
Neurotransmitter: FMRFamide (FLP-1). Express FMRFamide-like peptide, FLP-1 precursor (Nelson et al., 1998). Express the FMRFamide-related neuropeptide (FaRP), FLP-18 (Rogers et al., 2003).
Function: Command interneuron. Functions as driver cell for backward locomotion. Drives backward movement of the animal along with touch modulator AVD neuron, AVE and A-type motor neurons. See Locomotory circuit.
Receptor Expression: Express glutamate receptor subunits, GLR-1, GLR-2, GLR-4, GLR-5, NMR-1 and NMR-2 (Maricq et al., 1995; Brockie et al., 2001). Suggested to express GABA-A/glycine receptor-like protein GGR-3 (Fujiwara et al., 1996). Express UNC-8, a DEG/ENaC family member homologous to subunits of a candidate mechanically gated ion channel (Tavernarakis et al., 1997).