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<p>Chemotaxis to a moving potential mate that emits a volatile sex pheromone poses a navigation challenge requiring rapid, precise responses to maximize reproductive success. Volatile chemicals form gradients that differ from soluble compounds, potentially making navigation based on comparisons between spatially separated sensors unreliable for small-bodied animals. Here we show that, rather than a simple spatial comparison, <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> males employ an antagonistic strategy, comparing inputs from sex-shared head (AWA) and male-specific tail (PHD) sensory neurons with distinct response properties. Despite sharing a receptor, SRD-1, these detectors play different roles: AWAs promote forward movement and acceleration, while PHDs induce reversals and deceleration. In rising pheromone gradients, AWA activity dominates; in falling gradients, AWA inactivates, allowing PHD to correct trajectories. AWAs are essential for mate-searching, while PHDs are crucial for complex tasks. A minimal computational model reproduces these behaviors and infers how head–tail signals are combined. Thus, a sexually dimorphic, antagonistic sensory system enables adaptive navigation in dynamic environments</p>

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Efficient pheromone navigation via antagonistic detectors in Caenorhabditis elegans male

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月13日

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  • Xuan Wan,
  • Tingtao Zhou,
  • Vladislav Susoy,
  • Alessandro Groaz,
  • Core Francisco Park,
  • John F. Brady,
  • Aravinthan D. T. Samuel,
  • Paul W. Sternberg

摘要

Chemotaxis to a moving potential mate that emits a volatile sex pheromone poses a navigation challenge requiring rapid, precise responses to maximize reproductive success. Volatile chemicals form gradients that differ from soluble compounds, potentially making navigation based on comparisons between spatially separated sensors unreliable for small-bodied animals. Here we show that, rather than a simple spatial comparison, Caenorhabditis elegans males employ an antagonistic strategy, comparing inputs from sex-shared head (AWA) and male-specific tail (PHD) sensory neurons with distinct response properties. Despite sharing a receptor, SRD-1, these detectors play different roles: AWAs promote forward movement and acceleration, while PHDs induce reversals and deceleration. In rising pheromone gradients, AWA activity dominates; in falling gradients, AWA inactivates, allowing PHD to correct trajectories. AWAs are essential for mate-searching, while PHDs are crucial for complex tasks. A minimal computational model reproduces these behaviors and infers how head–tail signals are combined. Thus, a sexually dimorphic, antagonistic sensory system enables adaptive navigation in dynamic environments