Type: Interneuron
In MoW: AVB
Male Wiring Project: AVBL, AVBR
In Wormbase: AVB, AVBL, AVBR
Lineage: AB plpaapaap, AB prpaapaap
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 B-type (VB, DB) and AS motor neurons. Formerly called beta.
Neurotransmitter:
Function: Command interneuron. Functions as driver cell for forward locomotion. Drives forward movement of the animal along with the touch modulator, PVC, and B-type motor neurons. See Locomotory circuit.
Receptor Expression: Express glutamate receptor subunits, GLR-1 and GLR-5 (Maricq et al., 1995; Brockie et al., 2001). Express G protein-coupled serpentine receptor, SRA-11 (Troemel et al., 1995). 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).