The Nematode Pristionchus pacificus Requires the Gβ and Gγ Proteins for Light Adaptation But Not For Light Avoidance.

Abstract

Most organisms can sense and adapt to a wide range of light intensities. Although animals commonly use opsins for light detection, the nematode Pristionchus pacificus lacks conserved photoreceptors. The cyclic GMP signaling pathway and G protein-coupled receptor kinase are essential for light-avoidance behavior in P. pacificus. Although the mechanism of light sensing in P. pacificus has been partially elucidated, it remains unclear whether, and how, P. pacificus adapts to light. Here, we found that prior exposure to light reduced the frequency of light-avoidance behavior in P. pacificus, indicating its ability to adapt to light. To reveal the mechanism of light adaptation in P. pacificus, we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate Gβ and Gγ subunit mutants, as these subunits are involved in chemosensory adaptation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Gβ and Gγ subunit mutants exhibited light-avoidance behavior similar to that of the wild type, but light adaptation was impaired in the Gβ mutants. Similarly, the Gγ and arrestin mutants showed minor abnormalities in light adaptation. These findings suggest that these proteins play a role in sensory adaptation beyond that in chemosensation and could contribute to light response mechanisms in nematodes.