We'd love to hear your thoughts! (6/6)

For the worm-types, the ultimate destination of the glucose-octopamine complex is CAN - whose function is essential but not well understood. CAN appears to have the capacity to release octopamine but not to make it itself, implying that it functions like a neuron under certain circumstances. (5/6)

Similar types of conjugates of neurotransmitters are present in many animals, and we think this might represent a way to inactivate and store these types of chemicals so that they can be re-used only under certain conditions or after specific experiences. (4/6)

With Frank Schroeder's lab, we found that octopamine is imported into the intestine, where it's linked to glucose, and then linked to fatty acids that depend on a specific diet. This allows octopamine to move to other neurons where it can be re-released and change olfactory behavior. (3/6)

Many diet and stress-related behaviors are controlled by a neurotransmitter called octopamine (think norepinephrine, but in invertebrates). In worms, there are only 2 neurons that make this chemical. How can a single neuron type in the head coordinate octopamine signaling in space and time? (2/6)

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