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Abstract:
Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. C. elegans shares the same ecological niche with their predators, nematophagous fungi, which are ubiquitous in the soil. The predator-prey relationship between nematodes and nematophagous fungi makes them an attractive model to study co-evolution. When exposed to one of the most common nematophagous fungi, Arthrobotrys oligospora, both C. elegans, and other nematode species were attracted to A. oligospora in chemotaxis assays. Furthermore, chemotaxis assays performed on partition plates demonstrated that volatile compounds produced by A. oligospora contribute to worm attraction. Genetic analysis and cell-specific laser ablation showed that the AWC neurons are required for chemotaxis toward A. oligospora in C. elegans. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC- MS), we identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by A. oligospora that could potentially mediate worm-attraction. We will use single neuron transcriptome profiling and comparative genomics to identify potential G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in the detection of A. oligospora. The candidate GPCRs will be expressed in heterologous systems to test for potential ligand-receptor specificity, providing insights into the function and evolution of GPCRs in nematodes.
