Diverse states and stimuli tune olfactory receptor expression levels to modulate food-seeking behavior

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.79557
• Publication Date: 2022-08-31T14:00:19Z
• Authors: Ian G McLachlan; Talya S Kramer; Malvika Dua; Elizabeth M DiLoreto; Matthew A Gomes; Ugur Dag; Jagan Srinivasan; Steven W Flavell
• Keywords: Sensory cue; Sensory neuron

Animals must weigh competing needs and states to generate adaptive behavioral responses the environment. Sensorimotor circuits are thus tasked with integrating diverse external internal cues relevant these context-appropriate behaviors. However, mechanisms that underlie this integration largely unknown. Here, we show a wide range of stimuli converge upon single Caenorhabditis elegans olfactory neuron modulate food-seeking behavior. Using an unbiased ribotagging approach, find expression receptor genes in AWA is influenced by array stimuli, including feeding state, physiological stress, recent sensory cues. We identify odorants activate state-dependent receptors altered influences foraging. Further, dissect molecular neural circuit pathways through which information nutritional state integrated AWA. This reveals modular organization state-related signals arising from different cell types body on independently control chemoreceptor expression. The synthesis allows animals sensorimotor reflect animal's overall state. Our findings suggest general model sensory- transcriptional changes at periphery animals' meet their ongoing states.