Kono, Karina et al. (2019) International Worm Meeting "Inter-tissue signals drives inter-animal communication driving collective food-seeking behavior in C. elegans."

Lau, Hiu, Liu, Zheng, Tames, Maria, Kono, Karina, Rodrigues, Pedro, Yang, Claire, Chalasani, Sreekanth, Sharpee, Tatyana, Dubova, Ilir, Cecere, Zachary, Schroeder, Frank

[International Worm Meeting, 2019]

Neural circuits extract relevant sensory information from their environment and integrate internal state information and prior experience to generate robust behaviors. However, less is known how internal state information, including hunger affects neural circuit function and behavioral readouts. We combined food-deprivation with sensory integration assay where animals cross a repellent barrier to reach an attractant source. We found that food-deprived animals are more likely to cross the repellent barrier compared to controls. Specifically, we find that food-deprivation affects repellent sensitivity and is reversible. Next, we mapped the molecular pathway sensing and integrating this internal state. We show that MML-1 (a glucose-responsive bHLH/leucine zipper Mondo A homolog) detects the lack of glucose in the intestine and releases an AEX-5 convertase processed peptides using dense core vesicles. These peptides are sensed by DAF-2 insulin receptors on ASI neurons using a non-canonical mTOR complex. Downstream of this intestine-ASI signal, food-deprived animals alter the ascarosides that they secrete affecting the rest of the population. These studies show how intestinal signals modify neuronal signaling and alter inter-animal communication modifying collective behavior.