Avoidance of hydrogen sulfide is modulated by external and internal states in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) acts as an energy source, a toxin, and a gasotransmitter across diverse biological contexts. We use the robust locomotory responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to high levels of H₂S to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its acute and adaptive responses. We find that the H₂S-evoked behavioral response is shaped by multiple environmental factors including oxygen (O₂) levels and nutritional state and is modulated by various pathways such as insulin, TGF-β, and HIF-1 signaling, as well as by input from O₂-sensing neurons. Prolonged exposure to H₂S activates HIF-1 signaling, leading to the upregulation of stress-responsive genes, including those involved in H₂S detoxification. Thi

SUBMITTER: Pu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12646581 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature