dc.contributor.author |
Sherlekar, Amrita L |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Janssen, Abbey |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Siehr, Meagan S |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Koo, Pamela K |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Caflisch, Laura |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Boggess, May |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Lints, Robyn |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2018-10-23T03:53:06Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2013-01 |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
PLoS One 8(4):1-15 Article number e60597 05 May 2013 |
en |
dc.identifier.issn |
1932-6203 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/43324 |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
BACKGROUND: Mating behaviors in simple invertebrate model organisms represent tractable paradigms for understanding the neural bases of sex-specific behaviors, decision-making and sensorimotor integration. However, there are few examples where such neural circuits have been defined at high resolution or interrogated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we exploit the simplicity of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to define the neural circuits underlying the male's decision to initiate mating in response to contact with a mate. Mate contact is sensed by male-specific sensilla of the tail, the rays, which subsequently induce and guide a contact-based search of the hermaphrodite's surface for the vulva (the vulva search). Atypically, search locomotion has a backward directional bias so its implementation requires overcoming an intrinsic bias for forward movement, set by activity of the sex-shared locomotory system. Using optogenetics, cell-specific ablation- and mutant behavioral analyses, we show that the male makes this shift by manipulating the activity of command cells within this sex-shared locomotory system. The rays control the command interneurons through the male-specific, decision-making interneuron PVY and its auxiliary cell PVX. Unlike many sex-shared pathways, PVY/PVX regulate the command cells via cholinergic, rather than glutamatergic transmission, a feature that likely contributes to response specificity and coordinates directional movement with other cholinergic-dependent motor behaviors of the mating sequence. PVY/PVX preferentially activate the backward, and not forward, command cells because of a bias in synaptic inputs and the distribution of key cholinergic receptors (encoded by the genes acr-18, acr-16 and unc-29) in favor of the backward command cells. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our interrogation of male neural circuits reveals that a sex-specific response to the opposite sex is conferred by a male-specific pathway that renders subordinate, sex-shared motor programs responsive to mate cues. Circuit modifications of these types may make prominent contributions to natural variations in behavior that ultimately bring about speciation. |
en |
dc.format.medium |
Print-Electronic |
en |
dc.language |
eng |
en |
dc.relation.ispartofseries |
PloS one |
en |
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
en |
dc.subject |
Vulva |
en |
dc.subject |
Interneurons |
en |
dc.subject |
Animals |
en |
dc.subject |
Caenorhabditis elegans |
en |
dc.subject |
Choline |
en |
dc.subject |
Decision Making |
en |
dc.subject |
Synaptic Transmission |
en |
dc.subject |
Sex Characteristics |
en |
dc.subject |
Locomotion |
en |
dc.subject |
Female |
en |
dc.subject |
Male |
en |
dc.subject |
Sexual Behavior, Animal |
en |
dc.subject |
Optogenetics |
en |
dc.title |
The C. elegans male exercises directional control during mating through cholinergic regulation of sex-shared command interneurons. |
en |
dc.type |
Journal Article |
en |
dc.identifier.doi |
10.1371/journal.pone.0060597 |
en |
pubs.issue |
4 |
en |
pubs.begin-page |
e60597 |
en |
pubs.volume |
8 |
en |
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The authors |
en |
dc.identifier.pmid |
23577128 |
en |
pubs.publication-status |
Published |
en |
dc.rights.accessrights |
http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess |
en |
pubs.subtype |
research-article |
en |
pubs.subtype |
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
en |
pubs.subtype |
Journal Article |
en |
pubs.elements-id |
544580 |
en |
pubs.org-id |
Medical and Health Sciences |
en |
pubs.org-id |
Medical Sciences |
en |
pubs.org-id |
Molecular Medicine |
en |
dc.identifier.eissn |
1932-6203 |
en |
pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2013-04-11 |
en |
pubs.dimensions-id |
23577128 |
en |