Sexually dimorphic control of gene expression in sensory neurons regulates decision-making behavior in <i>C. elegans</i>.

Abstract

Animal behavior is directed by the integration of sensory information from internal states and the environment. Neuroendocrine regulation of diverse behaviors of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> is under the control of the DAF-7/TGF-β ligand that is secreted from sensory neurons. Here, we show that <i>C. elegans</i> males exhibit an altered, male-specific expression pattern of <i>daf-7</i> in the ASJ sensory neuron pair with the onset of reproductive maturity, which functions to promote male-specific mate-searching behavior. Molecular genetic analysis of the switch-like regulation of <i>daf-7</i> expression in the ASJ neuron pair reveals a hierarchy of regulation among multiple inputs-sex, age, nutritional status, and microbial environment-which function in the modulation of behavior. Our results suggest that regulation of gene expression in sensory neurons can function in the integration of a wide array of sensory information and facilitate decision-making behaviors in <i>C. elegans</i>.