Mechanisms of pheromone signaling in C. elegans

物种内动物之间的一种主要交流方式是通过统称为信息素的化学物质。信息素交流可以改变动物的发育和行为，但引起的确切反应由动物的内部状态和外部环境决定。这个项目的总体目标是了解动物如何将信息素信号与其他线索整合在一起，以指导适当的反应。线虫为研究信息素信号提供了一个很好的实验系统。这些动物使用一种复杂的混合化学物质相互交流，这种化学物质既控制幼年动物的发育，也控制成年动物的行为。将确定和描述信息素信号在其他信号(如食物可获得性)中被感知和解释以调节发育的遗传途径。在物理学家和工程师的合作下，将设计分析来检查不同环境下对信息素的行为和神经系统反应，并将调查信号整合的潜在机制。这项工作将有助于更好地了解动物之间是如何相互作用的，以及自然或人为的环境干扰如何影响动物的生存和繁殖。这项工作将加强学生的学习和培训，提高公众的化学传播意识。此外，它还将促进生物学家、化学家、物理学家和工程师之间的跨学科合作，改进可用于理解嗅觉如何影响动物行为的技术开发。这对人类的整体健康很重要，因为众所周知，嗅觉会影响人类的压力、精神和身体表现、疼痛、睡眠和体重控制。

A major mode of communication among animals within a species is via chemicals collectively called pheromones. Pheromone communication can alter both development and behavior, but the exact response elicited is determined by both the internal state and the external environment of the animal. The overall goal of this project is to understand how animals integrate pheromone signals together with other cues to direct the appropriate response. The nematode C. elegans provides an excellent experimental system in which to study pheromone signaling. These animals communicate with each other using a complex mixture of chemicals, which regulate both the development of young animals, as well as behaviors of adult animals. The genetic pathways by which pheromone signals are sensed and interpreted in the context of other signals such as food availability to regulate development will be identified and characterized. In collaboration with physicists and engineers, assays will be designed to examine behavioral and nervous system responses to pheromones in different environmental contexts, and the underlying mechanisms of signal integration will be investigated. This work will lead to a greater understanding of how animals interact with each other and their environment, and how natural or artificial environmental disruptions impact animal survival and reproduction. This work will enhance student learning and training and improve public awareness of chemical communication. In addition, it will promote interdisciplinary collaborations among biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers improving on technology development that can be used to understand how the sense of smell affects animal behavior. This is important for overall human wellbeing since the sense of smell is known to affect human stress, mental and physical performance, pain, sleep, and weight control.