RGEF-1b deficiency did not alter viability or fertility, or elicit obvious developmental defects. Thus, rgef-1−/− animals were exposed see more to volatile odorants, which simulate beneficial nutrients and induce chemotaxis. Volatile attractants, benzaldehyde

(BZ), isoamyl alcohol (IAA), and 2-butanone (BU) are detected by a pair of AWC sensory neurons; AWA neurons detect diacetyl ( Bargmann et al., 1993). Outputs from AWC and AWA regulate neuronal circuits underlying chemotaxis. C. elegans’ responses to odorants were quantified by measuring chemotaxis index (CI) values ( Experimental Procedures). High CI values verified that WT C. elegans was strongly attracted to odorants ( Figure 3A). In contrast, behavior of RGEF-1b-deficient animals was markedly defective. Chemotaxis to IAA, diacetyl, BZ, and BU was suppressed ∼10-, 4-, 4-, and 3-fold, respectively ( Figure 3A). Assays can be compromised if mutants have movement defects. However, RGEF-1b depleted and WT C. elegans had similar abilities for coordinated movement in a standard locomotion assay ( Figure 3B). Thus, RGEF-1b depletion disrupts odorant-induced chemotaxis. rgef-1−/− animals were reconstituted with an rgef-1::RGEF-1b-GFP transgene. RGEF-1b-GFP and unmodified REGF-1b had similar basal and PMA-stimulated selleck chemicals llc GTP loading activities in HEK293 cells ( Figure 3C). rgef-1 promoter-enhancer

DNA ensured neuronal expression of RGEF-1b-GFP during appropriate developmental stages. Biosynthesis of REGF-1b-GFP in rgef-1−/− animals restored WT CI values for odorants ( Figure 3A). Loss of RGEF-1b function was established as the molecular basis for defective chemotaxis. The possibility that RGEF-1b deficiency caused subtle developmental changes in the nervous system was explored. RGEF-1b cDNA was placed under regulation of a heat shock promoter (hsp-16.2) in expression vector pPD 95.77. The promoter is inactive at 20°C, but is activated in somatic cells when the temperature is raised to 32°C. Temperature-dependent

SPTLC1 induction of an hsp-16.2::RGEF-1b-GFP transgene for 60 min reconstituted AWC-dependent chemotaxis in adult rgef-1−/− animals that progressed through all developmental stages in the absence of RGEF-1b protein ( Figure 3D). Thus, RGEF-1b is not involved in development. Rather, the GTP exchanger is essential for transducing signals generated when C. elegans encounters attractive odors. Prolonged exposure to attractive odorant in the absence of food can elicit a behavioral change in C. elegans. After washing, treated animals avoid the conditioning odorant, yielding negative CI values. WT and RGEF-1b depleted animals exhibited similar, negative CI values after preincubation with BU or BZ ( Figures S3A and S3B). Thus, the behavioral switch to odor avoidance was preserved in animals lacking RGEF-1b. Detection of odorant is a prerequisite for the switch from attraction to aversion.