UPR^ER-immunity axis acts as physiological food evaluation system that promotes aversion behavior in sensing low-quality food.

Abstract

To survive in challenging environments, animals must develop a system to assess food quality and adjust their feeding behavior accordingly. However, the mechanisms that regulate this chronic physiological food evaluation system, which monitors specific nutrients from ingested food and influences food-response behavior, are still not fully understood. Here, we established a low-quality food evaluation assay system and found that heat-killed <i>E. coli</i> (HK-<i>E. coli),</i> a low-sugar food, triggers cellular UPR^ER and immune response. This encourages animals to avoid low-quality food. The physiological system for evaluating low-quality food depends on the UPR^ER (IRE-1/XBP-1) - Innate immunity (PMK-1/p38 MAPK) axis, particularly its neuronal function, which subsequently regulates feeding behaviors. Moreover, animals can adapt to a low-quality food environment through sugar supplementation, which inhibits the UPR^ER -PMK-1 regulated stress response by increasing vitamin C biosynthesis. This study reveals the role of the cellular stress response pathway as physiological food evaluation system for assessing nutritional deficiencies in food, thereby enhancing survival in natural environments.