The olfactory receptor SNIF-1 mediates foraging for leucine-enriched diets in C. elegans.

Authors

Ritika Siddiqui, Nikita Mehta, Gopika Ranjith, Marie-Anne Félix, Changchun Chen, Varsha Singh

Published in

eLife. Volume 13. Apr 24, 2026. Epub Apr 24, 2026.

Abstract

Acquisition of essential nutrients through diet is crucial for the survival of animals. Dietary odors might enable animals to forage for nutrient-rich diets. We asked if Caenorhabditis elegans, a bacterivorous nematode, uses olfactory cues to forage for essential amino acid-rich (EAA) diets. Using the native microbiota of C. elegans, we show that worms rely on olfaction to select leucine (EAA)-supplemented bacteria. Using gas chromatography, we find that leucine-supplemented bacteria produce isoamyl alcohol (IAA) odor in the highest abundance. Prior adaptation of worms to IAA diminishes the diet preference of worms. Several wild isolates of C. elegans display robust responses to IAA, emphasizing its ecological relevance. We find that foraging for a leucine-supplemented diet is mediated via the AWC olfactory neurons. Finally, we identify SNIF-1 G protein-coupled receptor in AWC neurons as a receptor for IAA and a mediator of dietary decisions in worms. Our study identifies a receptor-ligand module underpinning foraging behavior in C. elegans.

PMID:
42029136
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Sep 2026.

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