Neural Sex Modifies the Function of a C. elegans Sensory Circuit
Male
Neurons
Sex Characteristics
0303 health sciences
Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Disorders of Sex Development
MOLNEURO
DNA-Binding Proteins
Smell
03 medical and health sciences
Animals
Female
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
10. No inequality
Transcription Factors
DOI:
10.1016/j.cub.2007.10.015
Publication Date:
2007-11-06T12:20:30Z
AUTHORS (2)
ABSTRACT
Though sex differences in animal behavior are ubiquitous, their neural and genetic underpinnings remain poorly understood. In particular, the role of functional differences in the neural circuitry that is shared by both sexes has not been extensively investigated. We have addressed these issues with C. elegans olfaction, a simple innate behavior mediated by sexually isomorphic neurons. Though males respond to the same olfactory attractants as do hermaphrodites, we find that each sex has a characteristic repertoire of olfactory preferences. These are not secondary to other sex-specific behaviors and do not require signaling from the gonad. Sex-specific olfactory preferences are controlled by tra-1, the master regulator of C. elegans sexual differentiation. Moreover, the genetic masculinization of neurons in an otherwise wild-type hermaphrodite is sufficient to switch the sexual phenotype of olfactory preference behavior. These studies reveal novel and unexpected sex differences in a C. elegans sensory behavior that is exhibited by both sexes. Our results indicate that these differences are a function of the chromosomally determined sexual identity of shared neural circuitry.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
Coming soon ....
REFERENCES (29)
CITATIONS (70)
EXTERNAL LINKS
PlumX Metrics
RECOMMENDATIONS
FAIR ASSESSMENT
Coming soon ....
JUPYTER LAB
Coming soon ....