Feeling the Heat: Tips and Tricks of a Thermosensory Neuron in C. Elegans

Speaker

Prof. Piali Sengupta

Location

BioE 1001

Info

Abstract:* Thermosensation is a critical sensory modality for all organisms. C. elegans exhibits the remarkable ability to detect temperature changes of as little as 0.01°C
across a 10°C temperature range, and exhibits experience-dependent thermosensory behaviors. Thermosensation in the innocuous temperature range is mediated primarily by the single AFD sensory neuron pair. I will discuss our lab’s work on identifying the signal transduction mechanisms and morphological specializations that confer extraordinary thermosensitivity onto AFD. I will also describe ongoing work exploring the temperature experience-dependent transcriptional and non- transcriptional mechanisms that operate in this single sensory neuron pair to drive behavioral plasticity.

Sponsor

MCDB, N&B, NRI, and DYNS

Host

Denise Montell

Research Area

Neuroscience and Behavior

Resources

Feeling the Heat: Tips and tricks of a thermosensory neuron in C. elegans