Signaling by AWC Olfactory Neurons Is Necessary for Caenorhabditis elegans’ Response to Prenol, an Odor Associated with Nematode-Infected Insects

Abstract

Chemosensation plays a role in the behaviors and life cycles of numerous organisms, including nematodes. Many guilds of nematodes exist-ranging from the free-living Caenorhabditis elegans to various parasitic species such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which are parasites of insects. Despite ecological differences, previous research has shown that both EPNs and C. elegans respond to prenol (3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol), an odor associated with EPN-infections. However, it is unclear how C. elegans responds to prenol. By utilizing natural variation and genetic neuron ablation to investigate the response of C. elegans to prenol, we found that the AWC neurons are involved in the detection of prenol and that several genes (including dcap-1, dcap-2, and clec-39) influence response to this odorant. Furthermore, we identified that the response to prenol is mediated by the canonically proposed pathway required for other AWC-sensed attractants. However, upon testing genetically diverse isolates, we found that the response of some strains to prenol differed from their response to isoamyl alcohol (IAA), suggesting that the pathways mediating response to these two odorants may be genetically distinct. Further, evaluations leveraging natural variation and genome wide association revealed specific genes that influence nematode behavior and provide a foundation for future studies to better understand the role of prenol in nematode behavioral ecology.

Albatrellus confluens (Alb. & Schwein.) Kotl. & Pouz.: Natural Fungal Compounds and Synthetic Derivatives with In Vitro Anthelmintic Activities and Antiproliferative Effects against Two Human Cancer Cell Lines

“…There was also similar activity between the prenyl alcohols 8-10 and their corresponding phenolic compounds 1, 5, and 6 except for compound 4 whereby the corresponding prenyl alcohol 7 had lower activity. Prenol ( 7) is known to elicit behavioral responses in C. elegans through the AWC neurons [48]. The observed anthelmintic activity may be due to the interaction of 4 with these neurons.…”

Recent Advances in Life History Transition with Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora and Its Application in Sustainable Agriculture

“…Experiments on attraction to scents that communicate similar food or sexual signals and genetic screening of AWC neurons and single-cell transcription have demonstrated that two AWC olfactory neurons in C. elegans mediate the attraction of NTFs to the nematode [ 30 ]. Olfactory cues are used by nematodes for a variety of purposes, including finding mates [ 32 ], avoiding danger [ 33 ], and locating food sources [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. C. elegans has long been known to be attracted by several volatile compounds, including alcohols, chemical substances with sulfur bonds [ 30 ], metabolites with furan rings [ 11 ], and tiny chemical molecules such as triazoles [ 37 , 38 ].…”