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Starvation-induced social behavior in C. elegans

Award Number: R01GM113692
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/10/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2019

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Starvation-induced social behavior in C. elegans - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Some animals live together in stable groups while others prefer a solitary life style. But even the most asocial creatures may show a propensity to come together and aggregate under some environmental conditions. They may do so in different circumstances and for various reasons, yet all of them can be considered from a unifying evolutionary perspective. For instance, the ability to assess the environment and predict how it is going to change in the future is critical for animal survival and maximizing fitness. One way to obtain a more complete representation of the environment is to integrate information communicated by others. The genetically tractable nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, whose entire nervous consists of 302 neurons, is an attractive system for exploring neurogenetic mechanisms of animal decision-making in social contexts. The subject of this proposal is a recently discovered collective behavior of C. elegans L1 larvae-starvation- induced aggregation, which leads to improved survival. Preliminary results show that the aggregation requires at least two functional chemosensory neurons, called ASE and ASH, and is likely mediated by worm-derived chemical signals. We identified an enzyme essential for producing the aggregation signal-the alcohol dehy- drogenase SODH-1. Improved starvation survival of the larvae in clumps points to the functional importance of the aggregation for C. elegans fitness. Broadly, the goal of this project is to understand how neuronal, genetic, and molecular mechanisms in an individual contribute to an emergent population behavior, aggregation. At the individual level we want to know what signals the worm's exchange, what neurons in the worm respond to these signals, and what signaling pathways are activated in these neurons. These questions will be addressed experimentally with the tools of LC-MS and NMR chemical analysis and traditional molecular genetics. At the population level we want to know how animals come together and stay in clumps, what determines size and shape of these aggregates, and more importantly, what fitness benefits this behavior has for the worms. To this end we will computationally explore the aggregation using the active walker model, augmented to evaluate the contribution of aggregation to information accuracy and fitness. Mathematical modeling will be closely paralleled with experimental quantitative tracking of worm behavior. Specific aims of the proposal are - Aim 1: Determine neuronal and genetic mechanisms of starvation-induced L1 aggregation. Aim 2: Characterize the signals that mediate the L1 inter- actions. Aim 3: Develop a mathematical model for L1 aggregation and fitness. While the exact molecular mechanisms that operate in C. elegans may be species-specific, the role of social interactions in making critical decisions is a far broader question. Understanding the deep evolutionary roots of decision-making processes in social contexts, which in human society eventually lead to harmful or beneficial social behaviors, may help to improve our life style and mental health.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = -$53 )
2019	2018	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH, INC.	533 TOWER RD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	9/17/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$53
2019	2018	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH, INC.	533 TOWER RD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	4/10/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = -$53

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $352,220 )
2018	2018	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH, INC.	533 TOWER RD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	4/25/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$352,220
														Subtotal = $352,220

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $352,220 )
2017	2017	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH, INC.	533 TOWER RD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	6/6/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$35,223
2017	2017	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH, INC.	533 TOWER RD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	4/18/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$316,997
														Subtotal = $352,220

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $352,311 )
2016	2016	BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE FOR PLANT RESEARCH	TOWER ROAD	ITHACA	NY	14853	TOMPKINS	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	5/10/2016	NEW	$352,311
														Subtotal = $352,311

Grand Total All Awards = $1,056,698

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Starvation-induced social behavior in C. elegans

Award Number: R01GM113692

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/10/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2019

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