We are conducting unbiased forward genetic screens to obtain mutations affecting response to different endogenous small-molecules in C. elegans. The lab is currently conducting a reverse genetic screen to identify targets for a variety of small-molecule signals. Using this approach, we have found two distinct Gα proteins that mediate response to the different sex-specific chemicals. This suggests that these molecules activate different G-protein coupled receptors. Hence using both forward and reverse screening approaches, we will characterize how different signaling pathways interact to mediate sex- specific and non-sex-specific behaviors. These studies will allow us to reconstruct signal transduction pathways for the different chemicals and help define how different signaling pathways interact to mediate different phenotypes.