Evidence for Parallel Processing of Sensory Information Controlling Dauer Formation in Caenorhabditis elegans

INVESTIGATIONS

Evidence for Parallel Processing of Sensory Information Controlling Dauer Formation in Caenorhabditis elegans

J. H. Thomas, D. A. Birnby and J. J. Vowels
Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

Dauer formation in Caenorhabditis elegans is induced by chemosensation of high levels of a constitutively secreted pheromone. Seven genes defined by mutations that confer a dauer-formation constitutive phenotype (Daf-c) can be congruently divided into two groups by any of three criteria. Group 1 genes (daf-11 and daf-21) are (1) strongly synergistic with group 2 genes for their Daf-c phenotype, (2) incompletely suppressed by dauer-formation defective (Daf-d) mutations in the genes daf-3 and daf-5 and (3) strongly suppressed by Daf-d mutations in nine genes that affect the structure of chemosensory endings. Group 2 genes (daf-1, daf-4, daf-7, daf-8 and daf-14) are (1) strongly synergistic with group 1 genes for their Daf-c phenotype, (2) fully suppressed by Daf-d mutations in daf-3 and daf-5 and (3) not suppressed by Daf-d mutations in the nine genes that affect chemosensory ending structure. Mutations in each group of genes also cause distinct additional behavioral defects. We propose that these two groups of Daf-c genes act in parallel pathways that process sensory information. The two pathways are partially redundant with each other and normally act in concert to control dauer formation.

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				D. A. Birnby, E. M. Link, J. J. Vowels, H. Tian, P. L. Colacurcio, and J. H. Thomas A Transmembrane Guanylyl Cyclase (DAF-11) and Hsp90 (DAF-21) Regulate a Common Set of Chemosensory Behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans Genetics, May 1, 2000; 155(1): 85 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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