Connectomics Reveals a Feed-Forward Swallowing Circuit Driving Protein Appetite.

Nutrient state shapes not only what animals eat, but how they eat it. In , protein deprivation prolongs protein-specific feeding bursts, yet the motor mechanism underlying this change remains unknown. Using EM connectomics, we identified a feed-forward pathway from protein-sensitive gustatory receptor neurons to swallowing motor neurons. At its core is the Sustain neuron, which coordinates multiple swallowing motor neurons to move food efficiently through the cibarium and pharynx. This nutrient-dependent facilitation of swallowing sustains long feeding bursts, directly linking internal state to the temporal structure of feeding. Our findings reveal how a dedicated sensorimotor circuit translates physiological need into precise motor control to drive nutrient specific feeding appetite.