title: Regulation of two motor patterns enables the gradual adjustment of locomotion strategy in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: In animal locomotion a tradeoff exists between stereotypy and flexibility: fast long-distance travelling (LDT) requires coherent regular motions, while local sampling and area-restricted search (ARS) rely on flexible movements. We report here on a posture control system in C. elegans that coordinates these needs. Using quantitative posture analysis we explain worm locomotion as a composite of two modes: regular undulations versus flexible turning. Graded reciprocal regulation of both modes allows animals to flexibly adapt their locomotion strategy under sensory stimulation along a spectrum ranging from LDT to ARS. Using genetics and functional imaging of neural activity we characterize the counteracting interneurons AVK and DVA that utilize FLP-1 and NLP-12 neuropeptides to control both motor modes. Gradual regulation of behaviors via this system is required for spatial navigation during chemotaxis. This work shows how a nervous system controls simple elementary features of posture to generate complex movements for goal-directed locomotion strategies.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hums
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mende
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Harris S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonntag
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Traunmüller
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter VBC, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8072-787X
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis; D008124:Locomotion; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides
keywords: C. elegans; locomotion; motor control; neuromodulation; neuroscience