skn-1 is required for interneuron sensory integration and foraging behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 5; p. e0176798
• Main Authors: Wilson, Mark A, Iser, Wendy B, Son, Tae Gen, Logie, Anne, Cabral-Costa, Joao V, Mattson, Mark P, Camandola, Simonetta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01-05-2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aberration; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Appetitive Behavior - physiology; Biology and Life Sciences; Brain - cytology; Brain - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans - cytology; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - metabolism; Cell Movement - physiology; Chemoreception; Chemosensory perception; Circuits; Comparative analysis; Cues; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Energy metabolism; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Food; Food sources; Forage; Foraging behavior; Genetic aspects; Interneurons; Interneurons - cytology; Interneurons - metabolism; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metabolism; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mutants; Mutation; Nematodes; Neural networks; Neurons; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 - metabolism; Nutrient availability; Nutrient sources; Olfactory Perception - physiology; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Properties; Research and Analysis Methods; Sensation - physiology; Sensory integration; Sensory Receptor Cells - metabolism; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; United States > US; Maryland; Baltimore Maryland
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176798

Nrf2/skn-1, a transcription factor known to mediate adaptive responses of cells to stress, also regulates energy metabolism in response to changes in nutrient availability. The ability to locate food sources depends upon chemosensation. Here we show that Nrf2/skn-1 is expressed in olfactory interneurons, and is required for proper integration of multiple food-related sensory cues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Compared to wild type worms, skn-1 mutants fail to perceive that food density is limiting, and display altered chemo- and thermotactic responses. These behavioral deficits are associated with aberrant AIY interneuron morphology and migration in skn-1 mutants. Both skn-1-dependent AIY autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms regulate the neural circuitry underlying multisensory integration of environmental cues related to energy acquisition.