2024/01/01 by Wayan Gauthey, Francesco Randi, Anuj Kumar Sharma +2 · 2 voices
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Neuroscience · #Circadian rhythm and melatonin #Ecosystem dynamics and resilience #Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.043
openalex publication_date 2024/01/01 · openalex created_date 2024/01/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
Stereotyped oscillations in population neural activity recordings from immobilized Caenorhabditis elegans have garnered interest for their striking low dimensionality and their evocative state-space trajectories or manifolds. Previously these oscillations have been interpreted as intrinsically driven global motor commands. Here we test whether these oscillations are intrinsic. We show that similar oscillations are evoked by high-intensity blue light commonly used for calcium imaging. Oscillations are reduced or absent and have a lower frequency when a longer imaging wavelength is used. Under the original blue light illumination, oscillations are reduced or have a lower frequency in animals that lack GUR-3, an endogenous light- and hydrogen-peroxide-sensitive gustatory receptor. Additional experiments with hydrogen peroxide are consistent with GUR-3's involvement. We therefore propose that blue light evokes global oscillations in part through the creation of reactive oxygen species that activate the hydrogen-peroxide-sensing receptor GUR-3.