Dissecting a central flip-flop circuit that integrates contradictory sensory cues in C. elegans feeding regulation

Zhaoyu Li, Yidong Li, Yalan Yi, Wenming Huang, Song Yang, Weipin Niu, Li Zhang, Zijing Xu, Anlian Qu, Zhengxing Wu () and Tao Xu ()
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Zhaoyu Li: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yidong Li: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yalan Yi: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wenming Huang: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Song Yang: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Weipin Niu: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Li Zhang: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Zijing Xu: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Anlian Qu: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Zhengxing Wu: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Tao Xu: College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Feeding behaviour is modulated by both environmental cues and internal physiological states. Appetite is commonly boosted by the pleasant smell (or appearance) of food and destroyed by a bad taste. In reality, animals sense multiple environmental cues at the same time and it is not clear how these sensory inputs are integrated and a decision is made to regulate feeding behaviour accordingly. Here we show that feeding behaviour in Caenorhabditis elegans can be either facilitated by attractive odours or suppressed by repellents. By identifying mutants that are defective for sensory-mediated feeding regulation, we dissected a central flip-flop circuit that integrates two contradictory sensory inputs and generates bistable hormone output to regulate feeding behaviour. As feeding regulation is fundamental to animal survival, we speculate that the basic organizational logic identified here in C. elegans is likely convergent throughout different phyla.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1780

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