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C. elegans feeding.

Leon Avery1, Young-Jai You

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. lavery3@vcu.edu

Wormbook : the Online Review of C. Elegans Biology
|May 26, 2012
PubMed
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Caenorhabditis elegans feeding relies on pharyngeal muscle actions like pumping and isthmus peristalsis. Food availability and quality regulate these feeding behaviors and influence worm satiety and movement.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans uses its pharynx, a neuromuscular pump, for feeding, connecting the mouth to the intestine.
  • Pharyngeal muscle action involves two key motions: pumping and isthmus peristalsis, essential for capturing and transporting food.
  • While pharyngeal pumping can occur autonomously, its precise timing during feeding is modulated by specific pharyngeal motor neurons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying Caenorhabditis elegans feeding.
  • To understand how external food cues regulate pharyngeal muscle activity and feeding behavior.
  • To explore the role of different motor neuron types in coordinating feeding motions.

Main Methods:

  • Observation and analysis of pharyngeal muscle contractions (pumping and isthmus peristalsis).

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  • Behavioral assays to assess food selection and preference in C. elegans.
  • Investigation of the neural control of feeding by examining motor neuron function.

    • Main Results:

    • Pharyngeal muscle performs pumping and isthmus peristalsis to ingest and move food particles.
    • Specific motor neuron types control the timing of pumping and isthmus peristalsis.
    • C. elegans exhibits food-quality-dependent feeding behavior, seeking out superior bacterial food sources.
    • Food availability and quality influence feeding cessation and quiescence due to satiation.

    Conclusions:

    • Feeding in C. elegans is a complex neuromuscular process regulated by both intrinsic muscle properties and extrinsic neural control.
    • The worm's ability to discriminate and select food based on quality highlights sophisticated sensory-motor integration.
    • Environmental factors like food availability and quality play a critical role in modulating feeding behavior and satiety.