Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
8(1)
Published: Nov. 15, 2017
Upon
mating,
fruit
fly
females
become
refractory
to
further
mating
for
several
days.
An
ejaculate
protein
called
sex
peptide
(SP)
acts
on
uterine
neurons
trigger
this
behavioural
change,
but
it
is
still
unclear
how
the
SP
signal
modifies
decision.
Here
we
describe
two
groups
of
female-specific
local
interneurons
that
are
important
process-the
ventral
abdominal
lateral
(vAL)
and
medial
(vAM)
interneurons.
Both
vAL
vAM
express
myoinhibitory
(Mip)-GAL4.
positive
Mip
neuropeptides
sex-determining
transcriptional
factor
doublesex.
Silencing
in
induces
active
rejection
male
courtship
attempts,
whereas
activation
makes
even
mated
receptive
re-mating.
located
ganglion
(AG)
where
they
relay
other
AG
project
brain.
appear
promote
receptivity
both
virgins
females,
although
dispensable
normal
virgin
females.
To
optimize
fitness,
animals
must
dynamically
match
food
choices
to
their
current
needs.
For
drosophilids,
yeast
fulfills
most
dietary
protein
and
micronutrient
requirements.
While
several
metabolites
activate
known
gustatory
receptor
neurons
(GRNs)
in
Drosophila
melanogaster,
the
chemosensory
channels
mediating
feeding
remain
unknown.
Here
we
identify
a
class
of
proboscis
GRNs
required
for
intake.
Within
this
class,
taste
peg
are
specifically
sustain
feeding.
Sensillar
GRNs,
however,
mediate
initiation.
Furthermore,
response
but
not
sweet
is
enhanced
following
deprivation
from
amino
acids,
providing
potential
basis
protein-specific
appetite.
Although
nutritional
reproductive
states
synergistically
increase
appetite,
state
acts
independently
state,
modulating
processing
downstream
GRNs.
Together,
these
results
suggest
that
different
internal
act
at
distinct
levels
dedicated
circuit
elicit
nutrient-specific
appetites
towards
complex,
ecologically
relevant
source.
Current Biology,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
29(7), P. 1089 - 1099.e7
Published: March 14, 2019
Highlights•Genetic
reagents
target
homologous
neurons
in
multiple
Drosophila
species•Homologous
descending
drive
distinct
fly
songs
a
similar
social
context•Evolutionary
changes
downstream
of
the
cause
song
differences•Courtship
circuit
multifunctionality
may
facilitate
rapid
evolutionSummaryIt
is
unclear
where
nervous
system
evolutionary
tend
to
occur.
To
localize
source
neural
evolution
that
has
generated
divergent
behaviors,
we
developed
new
approach
label
and
functionally
manipulate
across
species.
We
examined
courtship
two
species
sing
types
localized
relevant
function
intrinsic
physiology
these
neurons.
This
change
causes
different
produce
motor
patterns
contexts.
Artificial
stimulation
drives
types,
suggesting
multifunctional
properties
circuits
types.
BMC Biology,
Journal Year:
2017,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: Sept. 29, 2017
Mate
finding
and
recognition
in
animals
evolves
during
niche
adaptation
involves
social
signals
habitat
cues.
Drosophila
melanogaster
related
species
are
known
to
be
attracted
fermenting
fruit
for
feeding
egg-laying,
which
poses
the
question
of
whether
species-specific
fly
odours
contribute
long-range
premating
communication.
We
have
discovered
an
olfactory
channel
D.
with
a
dual
affinity
sex
food
odorants.
Female
flies
release
pheromone,
(Z)-4-undecenal
(Z4-11Al),
that
elicits
flight
attraction
both
sexes.
Its
biosynthetic
precursor
is
cuticular
hydrocarbon
(Z,Z)-7,11-heptacosadiene
(7,11-HD),
afford
reproductive
isolation
between
sibling
simulans
courtship.
Twin
receptors,
Or69aB
Or69aA,
tuned
Z4-11Al
odorants,
respectively.
They
co-expressed
same
sensory
neurons,
feed
into
neural
circuit
mediating
species-specific,
communication;
however,
close
relative
simulans,
shares
resources
melanogaster,
does
not
respond
Z4-11Al.
The
Or69aA
isoforms
adopted
traits.
underlying
gene
yields
collaboration
natural
sexual
selection,
has
potential
drive
speciation.
Sustained
changes
in
mood
or
action
require
persistent
neural
activity,
but
it
has
been
difficult
to
identify
the
circuit
mechanisms
that
underlie
activity
and
contribute
long-lasting
behavior.
Here,
we
show
a
subset
of
Doublesex+
pC1
neurons
Drosophila
female
brain,
called
pC1d/e,
can
drive
minutes-long
behavior
presence
males.
Using
automated
reconstruction
volume
electron
microscopic
(EM)
image
map
all
inputs
outputs
both
pC1d
pC1e.
This
reveals
strong
recurrent
connectivity
between,
particular,
pC1d/e
specific
Fruitless+
aIPg.
We
additionally
find
activation
drives
brain
areas
cells
overlapping
with
network,
including
neurons.
Our
work
thus
links
architecture
brain.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: July 6, 2021
Abstract
Insects
use
sex
pheromones
as
a
reproductive
isolating
mechanism
to
attract
conspecifics
and
repel
heterospecifics.
Despite
the
profound
knowledge
of
pheromones,
little
is
known
about
coevolutionary
mechanisms
constraints
on
their
production
detection.
Using
whole-genome
sequences
infer
kinship
among
99
drosophilids,
we
investigate
how
phylogenetic
chemical
traits
have
interacted
at
wide
evolutionary
timescale.
Through
series
syntheses
electrophysiological
recordings,
identify
52
sex-specific
compounds,
many
which
are
detected
via
olfaction.
Behavioral
analyses
reveal
that
43
male-specific
compounds
transferred
female
during
copulation
mediate
receptivity
and/or
male
courtship
inhibition.
Measurement
signals
demonstrates
cognate
olfactory
channels
evolve
rapidly
independently
over
time
guarantee
efficient
intra-
inter-specific
communication
systems.
Our
results
show
sexual
isolation
barriers
between
species
can
be
reinforced
by
species-specific
signals.
