1
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Sato K, Yamamoto D. Molecular and cellular origins of behavioral sex differences: a tiny little fly tells a lot. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1284367. [PMID: 37928065 PMCID: PMC10622783 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1284367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral sex differences primarily derive from the sexually dimorphic organization of neural circuits that direct the behavior. In Drosophila melanogaster, the sex-determination genes fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx) play pivotal roles in producing the sexual dimorphism of neural circuits for behavior. Here we examine three neural groups expressing fru and/or dsx, i.e., the P1 cluster, aSP-f and aSP-g cluster pairs and aDN cluster, in which causal relationships between the dimorphic behavior and dimorphic neural characteristics are best illustrated. aSP-f, aSP-g and aDN clusters represent examples where fru or dsx switches cell-autonomously their neurite structures between the female-type and male-type. Processed sensory inputs impinging on these neurons may result in outputs that encode different valences, which culminate in the execution of distinct behavior according to the sex. In contrast, the P1 cluster is male-specific as its female counterpart undergoes dsx-driven cell death, which lowers the threshold for the induction of male-specific behaviors. We propose that the products of fru and dsx genes, as terminal selectors in sexually dimorphic neuronal wiring, induce and maintain the sex-typical chromatin state at postembryonic stages, orchestrating the transcription of effector genes that shape single neuron structures and govern cell survival and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Sato
- Neuro-ICT Laboratory, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-ICT Laboratory, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
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2
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Davis J, Da Silva Santos C, Zavala NC, Gans N, Patracuolla D, Fehrenbach M, Babcock DT. Characterizing dopaminergic neuron vulnerability using Genome-wide analysis. Genetics 2021; 218:6284964. [PMID: 34038543 PMCID: PMC8864742 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is primarily characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the brain. However, little is known about why DA neurons are selectively vulnerable to PD. To identify genes that are associated with DA neuron loss, we screened through 201 wild-caught populations of Drosophila melanogaster as part of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel. Here, we identify the top-associated genes containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms that render DA neurons vulnerable. These genes were further analyzed by using mutant analysis and tissue-specific knockdown for functional validation. We found that this loss of DA neurons caused progressive locomotor dysfunction in mutants and gene knockdown analysis. The identification of genes associated with the progressive loss of DA neurons should help to uncover factors that render these neurons vulnerable in PD, and possibly develop strategies to make these neurons more resilient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas Gans
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Daniel Patracuolla
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Monica Fehrenbach
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Daniel T Babcock
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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3
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Meeh KL, Rickel CT, Sansano AJ, Shirangi TR. The development of sex differences in the nervous system and behavior of flies, worms, and rodents. Dev Biol 2021; 472:75-84. [PMID: 33484707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how sex differences in innate animal behaviors arise has long fascinated biologists. As a general rule, the potential for sex differences in behavior is built by the developmental actions of sex-specific hormones or regulatory proteins that direct the sexual differentiation of the nervous system. In the last decade, studies in several animal systems have uncovered neural circuit mechanisms underlying discrete sexually dimorphic behaviors. Moreover, how certain hormones and regulatory proteins implement the sexual differentiation of these neural circuits has been illuminated in tremendous detail. Here, we discuss some of these mechanisms with three case-studies-mate recognition in flies, maturation of mating behavior in worms, and play-fighting behavior in young rodents. These studies illustrate general and unique developmental mechanisms to establish sex differences in neuroanatomy and behavior and highlight future challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L Meeh
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Clare T Rickel
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Alexander J Sansano
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Troy R Shirangi
- Villanova University, Department of Biology, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
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4
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Zhang Y, Ng R, Neville MC, Goodwin SF, Su CY. Distinct Roles and Synergistic Function of Fru M Isoforms in Drosophila Olfactory Receptor Neurons. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108516. [PMID: 33326795 PMCID: PMC7845487 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in Drosophila courtship circuits requires the male-specific transcription factor fruM, which is alternatively spliced to encode the FruMA, FruMB, and FruMC isoforms. Most fruM-positive neurons express multiple variants; however, the functional significance of their co-expression remains undetermined. Do co-expressed isoforms each play unique roles to jointly regulate dimorphism? By focusing on fruM-positive olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), here, we show that FruMB and FruMC are both required for males' age-dependent sensitization to aphrodisiac olfactory cues in a cell-autonomous manner. Interestingly, FruMB expression is upregulated with age in Or47b and Ir84a ORNs, and its overexpression mimics the effect of age in elevating olfactory responses. Mechanistically, FruMB and FruMC synergistically mediate response sensitization through cooperation of their respective downstream effectors, namely, PPK25 and PPK23, which are both required for forming a functional amplification channel in ORNs. Together, these results provide critical mechanistic insight into how co-expressed FruM isoforms jointly coordinate dimorphic neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Renny Ng
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Megan C Neville
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Nakamura S, Hira S, Kojima M, Kondo A, Mukai M. Expression of the core promoter factors TATA box binding protein and TATA box binding protein-related factor 2 in Drosophila germ cells and their distinct functions in germline development. Dev Growth Differ 2020; 62:540-553. [PMID: 33219538 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In Drosophila, the expression of germline genes is initiated in primordial germ cells (PGCs) and is known to be associated with germline establishment. However, the transcriptional regulation of germline genes remains elusive. Previously, we found that the BTB/POZ-Zn-finger protein, Mamo, is necessary for the expression of the germline gene, vasa, in PGCs. Moreover, truncated Mamo lacking the BTB/POZ domain (MamoAF) is a potent vasa activator. In this study, we investigated the genetic interaction between MamoAF and specific transcriptional regulators to gain insight into the transcriptional regulation of germline development. We identified a general transcription factor, TATA box binding protein (TBP)-associated factor 3 (TAF3/BIP2), and a member of the TBP-like proteins, TBP-related factor 2 (TRF2), as new genetic modifiers of MamoAF. In contrast to TRF2, TBP was found to show no genetic interaction with MamoAF, suggesting that Trf2 has a selective function. Therefore, we focused on Trf2 expression and investigated its function in germ cells. We found that Trf2 mRNA, rather than Tbp mRNA, was preferentially expressed in PGCs during embryogenesis. Depletion of TRF2 in PGCs resulted in decreased mRNA expression of vasa. RNA interference-mediated knockdown showed that, while Trf2 is required for maintenance of germ cells, Tbp is needed for their differentiation during oogenesis. Therefore, these results suggest that Trf2 and Tbp expression is differentially regulated in germ cells and that these factors have distinct functions in Drosophila germline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Nakamura
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Hyogo, Japan.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Seiji Hira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Makoto Kojima
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akane Kondo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masanori Mukai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University, Kobe, Japan.,Institute for Integrative Neurosciences, Hyogo, Japan
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Diaz S, Ariza-Suarez D, Izquierdo P, Lobaton JD, de la Hoz JF, Acevedo F, Duitama J, Guerrero AF, Cajiao C, Mayor V, Beebe SE, Raatz B. Genetic mapping for agronomic traits in a MAGIC population of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drought conditions. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:799. [PMID: 33198642 PMCID: PMC7670608 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07213-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common bean is an important staple crop in the tropics of Africa, Asia and the Americas. Particularly smallholder farmers rely on bean as a source for calories, protein and micronutrients. Drought is a major production constraint for common bean, a situation that will be aggravated with current climate change scenarios. In this context, new tools designed to understand the genetic basis governing the phenotypic responses to abiotic stress are required to improve transfer of desirable traits into cultivated beans. RESULTS A multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population of common bean was generated from eight Mesoamerican breeding lines representing the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of the CIAT Mesoamerican breeding program. This population was assessed under drought conditions in two field trials for yield, 100 seed weight, iron and zinc accumulation, phenology and pod harvest index. Transgressive segregation was observed for most of these traits. Yield was positively correlated with yield components and pod harvest index (PHI), and negative correlations were found with phenology traits and micromineral contents. Founder haplotypes in the population were identified using Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS). No major population structure was observed in the population. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data from the founder lines was used to impute genotyping data for GWAS. Genetic mapping was carried out with two methods, using association mapping with GWAS, and linkage mapping with haplotype-based interval screening. Thirteen high confidence QTL were identified using both methods and several QTL hotspots were found controlling multiple traits. A major QTL hotspot located on chromosome Pv01 for phenology traits and yield was identified. Further hotspots affecting several traits were observed on chromosomes Pv03 and Pv08. A major QTL for seed Fe content was contributed by MIB778, the founder line with highest micromineral accumulation. Based on imputed WGS data, candidate genes are reported for the identified major QTL, and sequence changes were identified that could cause the phenotypic variation. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates the importance of this common bean MAGIC population for genetic mapping of agronomic traits, to identify trait associations for molecular breeding tool design and as a new genetic resource for the bean research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Diaz
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
| | - Daniel Ariza-Suarez
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
| | - Paulo Izquierdo
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Present Address: Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Juan David Lobaton
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Present Address: School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, SA, Australia
| | - Juan Fernando de la Hoz
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Present Address: Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fernando Acevedo
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Departamento de Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Duitama
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Present Address: Systems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alberto F Guerrero
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
| | - Cesar Cajiao
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
| | - Victor Mayor
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- Present Address: Progeny Breeding, Madrid, Colombia
| | - Stephen E Beebe
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
| | - Bodo Raatz
- Bean Program, Agrobiodiversity Area, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia.
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7
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McKelvey EG, Fabre CC. Recent neurogenetic findings in insect courtship behaviour. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 36:103-110. [PMID: 31546094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Insect courtship parades consist of series of innate and stereotyped behaviours that become hardwired-in during the development of the nervous system. As such, insect courtship behaviour provides an excellent model for probing the principles of neuronal assembly, which underlie patterns of behaviour. Here, we present the main advances of recent studies - in species all the way from flies to planthoppers - and we envisage how these could lead to further propitious findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Gz McKelvey
- University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Cg Fabre
- University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom.
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8
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Sato K, Goto J, Yamamoto D. Sex Mysteries of the Fly Courtship Master Regulator Fruitless. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:245. [PMID: 31680899 PMCID: PMC6813181 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The fruitless (fru) gene of Drosophila melanogaster generates two groups of protein products, the male-specific FruM proteins and non-sex-specific FruCOM proteins. The FruM proteins have a 101 amino acids (a.a.)-long extension at the N-terminus which is absent from FruCOM. We suggest that this N-terminal extension might confer male-specific roles on FruM interaction partner proteins such as Lola, which otherwise operates as a transcription factor common to both sexes. FruM-expressing neurons are known to connect with other neurons to form a sexually dimorphic circuit for male mating behavior. We propose that FruM proteins expressed in two synaptic partners specify, at the transcriptional level, signaling pathways through which select pre- and post-synaptic partners communicate, and thereby pleiotropic ligand-receptor pairs for cell-cell interactions acquire the high specificity for mutual connections between two FruM-positive cells. We further discuss the possibility that synaptic connections made by FruM-positive neurons are regulated by neural activities, which in turn upregulate Fru expression in active cells, resulting in feedforward enhancement of courtship activities of the male fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Sato
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Junpei Goto
- Division of Neurogenetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
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9
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Sato K, Yamamoto D. The mode of action of Fruitless: Is it an easy matter to switch the sex? GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12606. [PMID: 31420927 PMCID: PMC7027472 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The fruitless (fru) locus was originally defined by a male sterile mutation that promotes male-to-male courtship while suppressing male-to-female courtship in Drosophila melanogaster. The fru promoter-1 pre-RNA generates a set of BTB-zinc finger family FruM proteins expressed exclusively in the male neurons, leading to the formation of sexual dimorphisms in neurons via male-specific neuroblast proliferation, male-specific neural survival, male-specific neuritegenesis or male-specific arbor patterning. Such a wide spectrum of phenotypic effects seems to result from chromatin modifications, in which FruBM recruits Bonus, Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and/or Heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) to ~130 target sites. One established FruBM transcriptional target is the axon guidance protein gene robo1. Multiple transcriptional regulator-binding sites are nested around the FruBM-binding site, and mediate sophisticated modulation of the repressor activity of FruBM. FruBM also binds to the Lola-Q transcriptional repressor to protect it from proteasome-dependent degradation in male but not female neurons as FruBM exists only in male neurons, leading to the formation of sexually dimorphic neural structures. These findings shed light on the multilayered network of transcription regulation orchestrated by the master regulator FruBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Sato
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
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10
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Nojima T, Chauvel I, Houot B, Bousquet F, Farine JP, Everaerts C, Yamamoto D, Ferveur JF. The desaturase1 gene affects reproduction before, during and after copulation in Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurogenet 2019; 33:96-115. [PMID: 30724684 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2018.1559843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Desaturase1 (desat1) is one of the few genes known to be involved in the two complementary aspects of sensory communication - signal emission and signal reception - in Drosophila melanogaster. In particular, desat1 is necessary for the biosynthesis of major cuticular pheromones in both males and females. It is also involved in the male ability to discriminate sex pheromones. Each of these two sensory communication aspects depends on distinct desat1 putative regulatory regions. Here, we used (i) mutant alleles resulting from the insertion/excision of a transposable genomic element inserted in a desat1 regulatory region, and (ii) transgenics made with desat1 regulatory regions used to target desat1 RNAi. These genetic variants were used to study several reproduction-related phenotypes. In particular, we compared the fecundity of various mutant and transgenic desat1 females with regard to the developmental fate of their progeny. We also compared the mating performance in pairs of flies with altered desat1 expression in various desat1-expressing tissues together with their inability to disengage at the end of copulation. Moreover, we investigated the developmental origin of altered sex pheromone discrimination in male flies. We attempted to map some of the tissues involved in these reproduction-related phenotypes. Given that desat1 is expressed in many brain neurons and in non-neuronal tissues required for varied aspects of reproduction, our data suggest that the regulation of this gene has evolved to allow the optimal reproduction and a successful adaptation to varied environments in this cosmopolitan species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Nojima
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France.,b Graduate School of Life Sciences , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan.,c Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour , University of Oxford , Oxford , United Kingdom
| | - Isabelle Chauvel
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France
| | - Benjamin Houot
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France.,d Division of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Alnarp , Sweden
| | - François Bousquet
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France
| | - Jean-Pierre Farine
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France
| | - Claude Everaerts
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France
| | - Daisuke Yamamoto
- b Graduate School of Life Sciences , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan.,e Neuro-Network Evolution Project, Advanced ICT Research Institute , National Institute of Information and Communications Technology , Nishi-Ku , Japan Kobe
| | - Jean-François Ferveur
- a Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation , Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté , Dijon , France
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11
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Chen YCD, Park SJ, Ja WW, Dahanukar A. Using Pox-Neuro ( Poxn) Mutants in Drosophila Gustation Research: A Double-Edged Sword. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:382. [PMID: 30405359 PMCID: PMC6207628 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In Drosophila, Pox-neuro (Poxn) is a member of the Paired box (Pax) gene family that encodes transcription factors with characteristic paired DNA-binding domains. During embryonic development, Poxn is expressed in sensory organ precursor (SOP) cells of poly-innervated external sensory (p-es) organs and is important for specifying p-es organ identity (chemosensory) as opposed to mono-innervated external sensory (m-es) organs (mechanosensory). In Poxn mutants, there is a transformation of chemosensory bristles into mechanosensory bristles. As a result, these mutants have often been considered to be entirely taste-blind, and researchers have used them in this capacity to investigate physiological and behavioral functions that act in a taste-independent manner. However, recent studies show that only external taste bristles are transformed in Poxn mutants whereas all internal pharyngeal taste neurons remain intact, raising concerns about interpretations of experimental results using Poxn mutants as taste-blind flies. In this review, we summarize the value of Poxn mutants in advancing our knowledge of taste-enriched genes and feeding behaviors, and encourage revisiting some of the conclusions about taste-independent nutrient-sensing mechanisms derived from these mutants. Lastly, we highlight that Poxn mutant flies remain a valuable tool for probing the function of the relatively understudied pharyngeal taste neurons in sensing meal properties and regulating feeding behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chieh David Chen
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Scarlet Jinhong Park
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - William W Ja
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - Anupama Dahanukar
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States.,Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
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