Different aspects of an animal’s life, like development, growth and reproduction, are directly influenced by the quality of its food. In the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, different types of food have been shown to affect different physiological processes, such as longevity, feeding and reproduction (Maier et al., 2010). For example, C. elegans grown on two different strains of E. coli bacteria (CS180 and OP50) show marked differences in their reproductive patterns. Worms grown on CS180 have a smaller brood size compared to worms grown on OP50. However, the animals on CS180 have faster rates egg-laying of as compared to animals on OP50. Currently, we are determining the mechanism(s) through which food quality could alter an animal’s rate of egg-laying. Since egg-laying behavior is mediated by the amine neurotransmitter serotonin, we are also investigating how food quality affects serotonin signaling in these animals. Thus, we will use both molecular genetics and metabolomic approaches to define the metabolites/molecules present in the bacterial food sources, which are responsible in altering the reproductive physiology of C. elegans.
Maier, W., Adilov, B., Regenass, M., and Alcedo, J. (2010). A neuromedin U receptor acts with the sensory system to modulate food type-dependent effects on C. elegans lifespan. PLoS Biol 8, e1000376.