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. 2023 Jul 14;12:e89702. doi: 10.7554/eLife.89702

Figure 6. FKH-8 is required for the correct display of several sensory mediated behaviors.

(A) Mutations in fkh-8 significantly impair appropriate backward response to nose touch, revealing functionality defects for the ASH, FLP and/or OLQ ciliated neurons. This phenotype is stronger in fkh-8(vlc43) null mutants than in the hypomorphic tm292 allele. n=20 animals per replicate, three biological replicates per genotype. (B) Decrease in locomotory rate upon re-entering a bacterial lawn is unaffected in fkh-8 mutants. n=15 worms per genotype and condition. (C) fkh-8 null mutants significantly fail to prevent dauer entry. Pheromones induce dauer in fkh-8 mutants, albeit less efficiently than in controls. Four biological replicates n>295 per replicate and genotype. (D to F) Lack of fkh-8 significantly impairs olfaction-mediated behaviors. Defects are observed for 2-nonanone repulsion mediated by AWB [Wild type n=59, 128, 114, 165; fkh-8(tm292) n=76, 123, 129, 209 and fkh-8(vlc43) n=82, 92, 130, 139] and 2-heptanone attraction mediated by AWC neurons [Wild type n=124, 129, 133; fkh-8(tm292) n=68, 94, 102 and fkh-8(vlc43) n=87, 83, 85]. Diacetyl response, mediated by AWA, is affected but not to a significant level due to high variability in the response [Wild type n=168, 69, 103; fkh-8(tm292) n=57, 85, 110 and fkh-8(vlc43) n=115, 107, 74]. (G to I) Attractive chemotaxis towards NaCl is unaffected in fkh-8 mutant animals. [Wild type n=62, 78, 72; fkh-8(tm292) n=105, 116, 106 and fkh-8(vlc43) n=111, 52, 78]. Avoidance behavior towards toxic SDS and copper anions is significantly impaired. [Six biological replicates, 5 worms per replicate and genotype, 4 tests per worm]. Mean and standard error are represented in all graphs. See Figure 6—figure supplement 1 for quantification of non-cilia mediated behaviors and Figure 6—source data 1 for raw data and statistics.

Figure 6—source data 1. Raw quantification data for behavioral analysis in Figure 6 and Figure 6—figure supplement 1.

Figure 6.

Figure 6—figure supplement 1. FKH-8 is not required for correct display of mechanosensory behaviors mediated by non-ciliated neurons.

Figure 6—figure supplement 1.

(A to C) fkh-8 mutants show normal avoidance behaviors elicited by mechanical stimuli known as gentle touch and harsh touch paradigms, suggesting FKH-8 is not required for the correct functionality of non-ciliated neurons ALM, AVM, PLM, and PVD. Redundant actions of PVD and PDE controlling scape response to harsh touch prevent to assess defects about the functionality of ciliated PDE neurons. Mean and standard error for three independent replicates are represented. See Figure 6—source data 1 for raw data. n=60 worms per genotype.