Distinct mechanisms underlie H2O2 sensing in C. elegans head and tail

Quintin, Sophie; Aspert, Théo

doi:10.1101/2021.07.26.451501

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 77 publications

(239 reference statements)

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“…Blue-light-evoked activity in AVG independently of mechanical stimulation suggests that LITE-1 has a role in or upstream to AVG. Supporting this possibility are the findings that AVG is the neuron with the strongest expression of lite-1 33 and that PHA requires LITE-1 for H2O2 sensation 62 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

Setty

Salzberg

Karimi

et al. 2022

Preprint

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How sensory perception is processed by the two sexes of an organism is still only partially understood. Despite some evidence for sexual dimorphism in auditory and olfactory perception, whether touch is sensed in a dimorphic manner has not been addressed. Here we find that the neuronal circuit for tail mechanosensation in C. elegans is wired differently in the two sexes and employs a different combination of sex-shared sensory neurons and interneurons in each sex. Reverse genetic screens uncovered cell- and sex-specific functions of the alpha-tubulin mec-12 and the sodium channel tmc-1 in sensory neurons, and of the glutamate receptors nmr-1 and glr-1 in interneurons, revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms that mediate tail mechanosensation. Moreover, we show that only in males, the sex-shared interneuron AVG is strongly activated by tail mechanical stimulation, and accordingly is crucial for their behavioral response. Importantly, sex reversal experiments demonstrate that the sexual identity of AVG determines both the behavioral output of the mechanosensory response and the molecular pathways controlling it. Our results present for the first time extensive sexual dimorphism in a mechanosensory circuit at both the cellular and molecular levels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

Setty

Salzberg

Karimi

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Blue-light-evoked activity in AVG independently of mechanical stimulation suggests that LITE-1 has a role in or upstream to AVG. Supporting this possibility are the findings that AVG is the neuron with the strongest expression of lite-1 34 and that PHA requires LITE-1 for H 2 O 2 sensation 68 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

How sensory perception is processed by the two sexes of an organism is still only partially understood. Despite some evidence for sexual dimorphism in auditory and olfactory perception, whether touch is sensed in a dimorphic manner has not been addressed. Here we find that the neuronal circuit for tail mechanosensation in C. elegans is wired differently in the two sexes and employs a different combination of sex-shared sensory neurons and interneurons in each sex. Reverse genetic screens uncovered cell- and sex-specific functions of the alpha-tubulin mec-12 and the sodium channel tmc-1 in sensory neurons, and of the glutamate receptors nmr-1 and glr-1 in interneurons, revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms that mediate tail mechanosensation. Moreover, we show that only in males, the sex-shared interneuron AVG is strongly activated by tail mechanical stimulation, and accordingly is crucial for their behavioral response. Importantly, sex reversal experiments demonstrate that the sexual identity of AVG determines both the behavioral output of the mechanosensory response and the molecular pathways controlling it. Our results present extensive sexual dimorphism in a mechanosensory circuit at both the cellular and molecular levels.

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“…elegans feeding organ and PHA sensory neurons in the C . elegans tail are excited by H 2 O 2 and promote aversive responses to H 2 O 2 [ 74 , 75 ]. In the fruit fly Drosophila , olfactory neurons are excited by H 2 O 2 produced in response to ultraviolet light and inhibit egg laying in response to that input [ 76 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of sensory perception by hydrogen peroxide enables Caenorhabditis elegans to find a niche that provides both food and protection from hydrogen peroxide

Schiffer¹,

Stumbur²,

Seyedolmohadesin³

et al. 2021

PLoS Pathog

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Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the most common chemical threat that organisms face. Here, we show that H2O2 alters the bacterial food preference of Caenorhabditis elegans, enabling the nematodes to find a safe environment with food. H2O2 induces the nematodes to leave food patches of laboratory and microbiome bacteria when those bacterial communities have insufficient H2O2-degrading capacity. The nematode’s behavior is directed by H2O2-sensing neurons that promote escape from H2O2 and by bacteria-sensing neurons that promote attraction to bacteria. However, the input for H2O2-sensing neurons is removed by bacterial H2O2-degrading enzymes and the bacteria-sensing neurons’ perception of bacteria is prevented by H2O2. The resulting cross-attenuation provides a general mechanism that ensures the nematode’s behavior is faithful to the lethal threat of hydrogen peroxide, increasing the nematode’s chances of finding a niche that provides both food and protection from hydrogen peroxide.

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Distinct mechanisms underlie H₂O₂ sensing in C. elegans head and tail

Cited by 3 publications

References 77 publications

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

Sexually dimorphic architecture and function of a mechanosensory circuit in C. elegans

Modulation of sensory perception by hydrogen peroxide enables Caenorhabditis elegans to find a niche that provides both food and protection from hydrogen peroxide

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