Why do C. elegans lay eggs only when food is around? In this episode, we explore a newly uncovered neuromodulatory circuit that links food detection to reproductive behaviour using a clever form of disinhibition. At the heart of this is the AVK interneuron — silenced by dopamine when food is present — which normally blocks egg-laying until conditions are right.

We unpack:

How AVK neurons act as gatekeepers for egg-laying behaviour Dopamine from food-sensing neurons inhibits AVKs via DOP-3 receptors AVKs release a cocktail of neuropeptides (PDF-1, NLP-10, NLP-21) that modulate downstream AIY neurons Functional imaging, CRISPR mutants, and optogenetics map the full food-to-egg pathway How this reveals general principles of neuromodulation and disinhibition

📖 Based on the research article: “Food sensing controls C. elegans reproductive behavior by neuromodulatory disinhibition” Yen-Chih Chen, Kara E. Zang, Hassan Ahamed, Niels Ringstad Published in Science Advances (2025) 🔗 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu5829

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