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- Title
Distinct neuropeptide-receptor modules regulate a sex-specific behavioral response to a pheromone.
- Authors
Reilly, Douglas K.; McGlame, Emily J.; Vandewyer, Elke; Robidoux, Annalise N.; Muirhead, Caroline S.; Northcott, Haylea T.; Joyce, William; Alkema, Mark J.; Gegear, Robert J.; Beets, Isabel; Srinivasan, Jagan
- Abstract
Dioecious species are a hallmark of the animal kingdom, with opposing sexes responding differently to identical sensory cues. Here, we study the response of C. elegans to the small-molecule pheromone, ascr#8, which elicits opposing behavioral valences in each sex. We identify a novel neuropeptide-neuropeptide receptor (NP/NPR) module that is active in males, but not in hermaphrodites. Using a novel paradigm of neuropeptide rescue that we established, we leverage bacterial expression of individual peptides to rescue the sex-specific response to ascr#8. Concurrent biochemical studies confirmed individual FLP-3 peptides differentially activate two divergent receptors, NPR-10 and FRPR-16. Interestingly, the two of the peptides that rescued behavior in our feeding paradigm are related through a conserved threonine, suggesting that a specific NP/NPR combination sets a male state, driving the correct behavioral valence of the ascr#8 response. Receptor expression within pre-motor neurons reveals novel coordination of male-specific and core locomotory circuitries. Reilly et al identify a neuropeptide-neuropeptide receptor (NP/NPR) module that is active in male but not in hermaphrodite C. elegans. Using a neuropeptide rescue paradigm, they demonstrate that receptor expression within pre-motor neurons mediates coordination of male-specific and core locomotor circuitries.
- Subjects
NEUROPEPTIDES; PHEROMONES; ANIMAL sexual behavior; NEMATODES; ANIMAL communication; G protein coupled receptors
- Publication
Communications Biology, 2021, Vol 4, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2399-3642
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s42003-021-02547-7