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Commun Biol

Title:		Distinct neuropeptide-receptor modules regulate a sex-specific behavioral response to a pheromone
Author(s):		Reilly DK; McGlame EJ; Vandewyer E; Robidoux AN; Muirhead CS; Northcott HT; Joyce W; Alkema MJ; Gegear RJ; Beets I; Srinivasan J;
Address:		"Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA. Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. AbbVie Foundational Neuroscience Center, Cambridge, MA, USA. Neural Signaling and Circuit Plasticity Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Optum, Hartford, CT, USA. Neurobiology Department, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, USA. Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA. jsrinivasan@wpi.edu"
Journal Title:		Commun Biol
Year:		2021
Volume:		20210831
Issue:		1
Page Number:		1018 -
DOI:		10.1038/s42003-021-02547-7
ISSN/ISBN:		2399-3642 (Electronic) 2399-3642 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Dioecious species are a hallmark of the animal kingdom, with opposing sexes responding differently to identical sensory cues. Here, we study the response of C. elegans to the small-molecule pheromone, ascr#8, which elicits opposing behavioral valences in each sex. We identify a novel neuropeptide-neuropeptide receptor (NP/NPR) module that is active in males, but not in hermaphrodites. Using a novel paradigm of neuropeptide rescue that we established, we leverage bacterial expression of individual peptides to rescue the sex-specific response to ascr#8. Concurrent biochemical studies confirmed individual FLP-3 peptides differentially activate two divergent receptors, NPR-10 and FRPR-16. Interestingly, the two of the peptides that rescued behavior in our feeding paradigm are related through a conserved threonine, suggesting that a specific NP/NPR combination sets a male state, driving the correct behavioral valence of the ascr#8 response. Receptor expression within pre-motor neurons reveals novel coordination of male-specific and core locomotory circuitries"
Keywords:		"Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/*physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins Carrier Proteins Hermaphroditic Organisms/genetics/*physiology *Locomotion/drug effects Male Receptors, Neuropeptide/*genetics/metabolism;neuroscience;"
Notes:		"MedlineReilly, Douglas K McGlame, Emily J Vandewyer, Elke Robidoux, Annalise N Muirhead, Caroline S Northcott, Haylea T Joyce, William Alkema, Mark J Gegear, Robert J Beets, Isabel Srinivasan, Jagan eng R01 DC016058/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 GM140480/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ R01 NS107475/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/ P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2021/09/02 Commun Biol. 2021 Aug 31; 4(1):1018. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02547-7"