Threshold chemosensitivity and hypothetical chemoreceptor function of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans.

The behavioral responses by the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans to 12 organic compounds was explored using tethered nematode and computer tracking methods. Results indicate that the nematode is attracted to acetone, diethyl ether, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, 2,4-pentanedione, andn-propanol. No responses were detected to acetaldehyde, acetylcholine, ethanol, formaldehyde, i-propanol, and valerate. Isoamyl acetate and acetone were found to be the most potent attractants eliciting minimal responses at concentrations near 10(-10) M. The geometry and charge distribution of a single hypothetical receptor that would interact with all the compounds that elicited a response and none of the compounds that failed to elicit a response is explored.