Thermal limits and chemotaxis in mutants of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans defective in thermotaxis

Summary

Four mutant strains of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans previously isolated as defective in thermotaxis (Hedgecock and Russell, 1975) were compared to the wild type in tests of their thermal range of activity and chemotaxis. The cold side of the temperature-activity curves of all four strains were different from wild type. The curves of the two cryophilic strains (EH65 and EH67) were shifted to colder temperatures. The curves of the other two mutant strains were shifted to warmer temperatures. In tests of chemotaxis to a variety of stimuli, strain EH61 made no response to any, EH71 made weak responses to all, and the remaining two strains made responses equal to wild type except for weaker responses to three chemical stimuli. It is concluded that thermotaxis shares specific gene requirements with processes controlling both thermal limits and sensory reception.