Animal behavior is influenced by the competing drives to maintain energy and to reproduce. The balance between these evolutionary pressures and how nutrient signaling pathways intersect with mating drive remains unclear. The nutrient sensor O-GlcNAc transferase, which post-translationally modifies intracellular proteins with a single monosaccharide, is responsive to cellular nutrient status and regulates diverse biological processes. Though essential in most metazoans, O-GlcNAc transferase (ogt-1) is dispensable in Caenorhabditis elegans, allowing genetic analysis of its physiological roles. Compared to control, ogt-1 males have a four-fold reduction in mean offspring, with nearly two thirds producing zero progeny. Interestingly, we found that isolated ogt-1 males are less likely to engage in mate-searching, and they initiate mating less often when exposed to mates. In addition, ogt-1 males which do initiate mating are less likely to continue with subsequent steps in the mating process, resulting in fewer successful sperm transfers. Lowering barriers to mating such as immobilizing mates or allowing more mating time significantly improves ogt-1 male mating. Surprisingly, we found high fertility levels for ogt-1 mutant males with hypodermal expression of wild-type ogt-1 and by ogt-1 harboring mutations that prevent the transfer of O-GlcNAc by OGT-1. This suggests OGT-1 serves a non-catalytic function in the hypodermis impacting the male mating drive. This study builds upon research on the nutrient sensor O-GlcNAc transferase and demonstrates a role it plays in the interplay between the evolutionary drives for reproduction and survival.

Animal behavior is influenced by the competing drives to maintain energy and to reproduce. The balance between these evolutionary pressures and how nutrient signaling pathways intersect with mating remains unclear. The nutrient sensor O-GlcNAc transferase, which post-translationally modifies intracellular proteins with a single monosaccharide, is responsive to cellular nutrient status and regulates diverse biological processes. Though essential in most metazoans, O-GlcNAc transferase (ogt-1) is dispensable in Caenorhabditis elegans, allowing genetic analysis of its physiological roles. Compared to control, ogt-1 males had a four-fold reduction in mean offspring, with nearly two thirds producing zero progeny. Interestingly, we found that ogt-1 males transferred sperm less often, and virgin males had reduced sperm count. ogt-1 males were also less likely to engage in mate-searching and mate-response behaviors. Surprisingly, we found normal fertility for males with hypodermal expression of ogt-1 and for ogt-1 strains with catalytic-dead mutations. This suggests OGT-1 serves a non-catalytic function in the hypodermis impacting male fertility and mating behavior. This study builds upon research on the nutrient sensor O-GlcNAc transferase and demonstrates a role it plays in the interplay between the evolutionary drives for reproduction and survival.